Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb leader, extended his congratulations to Vladimir Putin on what he described as a "convincing victory" in the Russian presidential election.
The president of Republika Srpska, a political entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed his congratulations through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), which included a photograph of him alongside Putin.
"The fifth mandate at the head of the Russian Federation, won by a confident victory in the presidential elections, is a confirmation that President Vladimir Putin has the enormous trust of the Russian people and is leading the country in the right direction," wrote the leader of the Bosnian Serbs.
He hailed the election result as "joyous news for the Serbian people," describing Putin as an "outstanding statesman" and a crucial ally.
In his message, Dodik also commended the Russian electorate for choosing a "responsible and wise statesman," wishing Putin endurance in "saving Russia and ensuring peace and a better future for the whole world."
According to "Balkanskii Ogleklar," three representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the Russian elections as observers, all of whom are members of the ruling coalition parties in Republika Srpska. These individuals include Miroslav Vujicic and Srdjan Mazalica from the Union of Independent Social Democrats, led by Milorad Dodik, and Sinisa Vidovic from the United Srpska party.
Nenad Stevandych, the head of the People's Assembly of Republika Srpska, is reported to be in Moscow, where he discussed agreements and signed a deal in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
The international response to the Russian election has been mixed, with several countries and leaders questioning the democratic integrity of the process. The President of the European Council notably offered a sarcastic congratulations to Putin on his expected "victory" on the first day of voting, reflecting broader skepticism about the election's legitimacy.
