After Russian Ambassador Igor Kalabukhov told him he would be “ashamed of his statements on Ukraine once he gets wiser,” Bosnia Presidency member Denis Becirovic replied he is “proud to be among those who condemn Russian aggression” and that he and the Russian diplomat “belong to two different worlds.”

“I would be very concerned if the Russian ambassador told me on the occasion of the anniversary of the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine that I would be proud of my statement on Ukraine. Also, I would be concerned if the Russian ambassador left me out from the list of those that need to be labelled or condemned,” said Becirovic, the Bosniak member of the tripartite Presidency.

“I proudly say that I am with all those who condemn the Russian aggression and that I am not among the small group of dictators and autocrats who support and honour Russian President Vladimir) Putin's regime,” he added.

Becirovic also said he and the Russian ambassador “belong to two different worlds” and that majority of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including him, stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

The response comes a day after the Russian ambassador in Sarajevo condemned Becirovic's statement in which he showed the solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condemned the Russian aggression “as the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

In a strong reaction, Kalabukhov assessed Becirovic as a “young politician” and that he was convinced the Presidency member would be ashamed of his words “once he become wiser.”

According to the Constitution of BiH, Becirovic has no right to speak on behalf of all citizens in BiH, not even all the Bosniaks, said the ambassador. He also made a remark about Becirovic's election in the last elections saying – with no evidence to support his words, that Becirovic won thanks to those who voted “against other candidate” and “not thanks to the votes of support.”

Kalabukhov added that he sees the Bosniak Presidency member's stance as his personal opinion.