The Russian Ambassador to BiH Igor Kalabuhov and the President of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, Milorad Dodik, opened the Office of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Banja Luka, on Tuesday.

Before that, the Russian national anthem was played and the flag of the Russian Federation was raised on a six-meter-high flagpole.

Ambassador Kalabuhov and Entity President Dodik spoke at the solemn ceremony, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke via video link.

“First of all, I congratulate Republika Srpska on this wonderful event. A good job was done and we have been waiting for this for years. I would like to thank everyone who participated in the realization of this demanding project, especially Milorad Dodik, who devoted special attention to this project. Today, our relations with the RS are experiencing great success. We maintain a political dialogue, we will pay special attention to the construction of the Serbian-Russian temple. RS is the stronghold of historical truth, we are with you on the same side of history, together we will defend truth, justice and freedom,” Lavrov said.

N1

N1

N1

N1

N1

N1

The ceremony was attended among others, by the RS National Assembly Speaker, Nenad Stevandic, Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, ministers in the RS Government, Speaker of the RS Council of Peoples Srebrenka Golic, members of the RS National Assembly, representatives of the RS in Bosnia's state institutions, His Eminence Bishop Jefrem of Banja Luka, Academy of Arts and Sciences President Rajko Kuzmanovic.

With the opening of the new diplomatic office of the Russian Federation, as a branch of the home Embassy in Sarajevo, Russia will join the countries that already have their offices in Banja Luka.

In May 2022, the Russian Government accepted the proposal to open the Office of the Russian Embassy in Banja Luka.