Watch the second out of four movies of Žurnal’s documentary series about the methods of Russian, and not only Russian, influence on Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Balkan countries.

In the first part of the video series called "Putin's plan for the Balkans", we explain the general picture of the methods of influence of Russia and its satellites on this area. February 24. In 2022, Russia committed aggression against the population and territory of Ukraine. Are the Balkan countries Putin's next target?

Milorad Dodik knows that it is not advisable to betray Putin. However, the one who once betrayed those who had put him on the political scene in BiH in BiH, is capable of doing the same to the current “bosses”. So today, just in case, several “Despots” are standing guard in front of Dodik’s residence.

The question of all questions is how long can Russian influence on Bosnia and Herzegovina be preserved. Milorad Dodik wishes to maintain the status of an important Russian factor, so does Dragan Čović. The remaining part of the political arena believes that the influence of Russia will simply disappear and that the Europe and the USA will do everything they had missed to do in the previous years, “sleeping” while Dodik and Čović were “doing their thing”.

For years, Žurnal has been systematically analyzing and warning about the methods of Russia's influence, not only in politics and economics, but also in other segments such as culture or education. It seems that finally many understand what we were talking about. Russia is waging war in BiH by other means.

Russia continues to support Milorad Dodik and his secessionist intentions, as it finds it quite convenient to keep the powder keg in the Balkans with the Russian pin in the lapel particularly due to the situation with Ukraine. It knows that he is no stranger to betraying his political mentors, but at this moment Russia is his only “safe house”...

Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska are just Russia's convenient tools for opposing the West. Dodik's political adventure called the return of state competencies to Republika Srpska serves to protect the promise he made to the Russian tycoons with whom he has much stronger ties than with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Federation has entirely unveiled its role in this region by providing support to Milorad Dodik and Dragan Čović in the latest endeavors to destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, is doing a good portion of the “dirty work”. Essentially, Dodik, Čović and Vučić are mere marionettes to Russia that uses them to halt the NATO integration of BiH and its prosperity.

Quite the opposite from what Milorad Dodik has been proclaiming and wishing for many years now is happening, for Republika Srpska to join Serbia. We are witnessing situation where Serbia, through this entity, is entering, conquering and appropriating both resources and the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And where ever Serbia is, the ground is “well prepared” for Russia!

BiH entity Republika Srpska has over the past few years been treated as the Russian back-up strategic location. The president of the ruling SNSD, with the support of Russia, has been trying to block any attempt of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the NATO Alliance and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Several events have marked 2020, and optimists assess them as an indication of the reduction of “Russia’s soft power” in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These events are the change of the Central Election Commission’s members and the resignation of the President of the HJPC, Milan Tegeltija, but above all the result of the United States presidential elections, where Joe Biden won. However, it is wrong to think that these were the reasons why Russia has renounced its influence in the local affairs

The institution that hosted the President of the HJPC Milan Tegeltija in Russia in 2018 and 2019, having “the interests of the citizens and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina in mind”, has been unofficially registered as an aide of the Main Intelligence Administration of Russia (GRU)

Žurnal reminds of Russia’s growing influence on local political and economic developments. How the Russian oligarchs tried to take over the energy sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina