According to Russian and Bosnian media reports, Hungary has allegedly appealed against Interpol’s red notice issued for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik. Interpol issued the international arrest warrant for the President of Republika Srpska (RS) on 28 March, following a request by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), after Dodik violated a federal arrest order by travelling to Serbia and Israel.
As reported by the Russian state agency TASS and Sarajevo-based Raport, following Serbia, Hungary has also submitted an appeal against the Interpol red notice. However, as noted, ‘it is not clear what the content of the complaint is.’
Belgrade previously lodged a formal protest with Interpol, with Interior Minister Ivica Dačić arguing that Dodik is a Serbian citizen. He cited Article 3 of the Interpol Statute, which states that ‘any activity or intervention in cases that have a political, military, religious, or racial background is strictly prohibited.’ This, according to Belgrade, is precisely the nature of Dodik’s warrant.
‘Belgrade previously lodged a formal protest with Interpol’
The Bosnian Serb leader was convicted on political grounds for rejecting the decisions of BiH’s High Representative of the international community—a position vested with sweeping powers, including the authority to annul legislation and dismiss even democratically elected leaders in both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.
This reasoning may well underpin Hungary’s alleged appeal as well. Following Dodik’s conviction on 26 February, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that ‘the political witch hunt against President @MiloradDodik is a sad example of the weaponization of the legal system aimed at a democratically elected leader.’ He further warned that the decision threatens the already fragile stability of the Western Balkans.
Orbán and Hungary have long been close allies of both Republika Srpska and Milorad Dodik, while also maintaining functional relations with the leadership of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungary has been one of the most vocal advocates for Bosnia’s—and the broader region’s—accession to the European Union. It is also among the largest contributors to the EU’s peacekeeping mission in BiH, EUFOR Althea.
Despite the Interpol warrant, Dodik flew to Moscow on 28 March. While this was merely speculation on Monday, when Hungarian Conservative first reported it, it has since been confirmed by the Bosnian Serb leader himself. In a video posted on X, Dodik is seen standing beside what appears to be the Kremlin walls in the Russian capital. In the caption, he emphasized that ‘every visit he makes to Moscow begins with a trip to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier to pay tribute to the Russian soldiers who died in WWII.’ He delivered a clear message to both Interpol and BiH authorities: he will be present in Moscow on 9 May, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory over fascism.
According to earlier press reports, Dodik was scheduled to meet Putin on Tuesday, ie, today. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the press, as reported by TASS: ‘We will inform you if this meeting takes place.’
Hungarian Conservative has sent questions to the Ministry of Interior of Hungary and the Hungarian National Police Headquarters regarding the alleged appeal, and will update the article as soon as a response is received.
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