Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban receives a medal from pro-Russia Bosnian Serb president Dodik

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban receives a medal from pro-Russia Bosnian Serb president Dodik

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In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks after receiving the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit to Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

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In this photograph made available by the Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, receives the Order of Republika Srpska from Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik during his visit in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. Orban is on a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Republika Srpska Presidential Press Service via AP)

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Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, welcomes Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, right, talks to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, during their meeting in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on during his meeting with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik smiles during a meeting with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban smiles during the meeting with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, poses for a photo with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo prior to their meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, shakes hands with the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Kristo prior to their meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

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BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday received a medal from the pro-Russian leader of Bosnia’s Serbs, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. and Britain because of his separatist policies.

Orban visited the Bosnian Serb administrative headquarters of Banja Luka as part of a visit to Bosnia. He first traveled to Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo on Thursday.

Bosnian Serbs are in charge of around half of Bosnia while the country’s Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslim, and ethnic Croats run the other half. Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, a supporter of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has sought to split from the rest of Bosnia.

There have been fears in the West that Russia could try to stir instability in Bosnia to avert some of the attention from the war in Ukraine. Bosnia remains ethnically tense and politically fragile years after a 1992-95 ethnic war.

European Union leaders last month agreed to open talks with Bosnia on joining the bloc in an effort to bring the country into its fold. Bosnia’s three-member multi-ethnic presidency said after a meeting with Orban on Thursday that it will continue on the EU path and thanked Hungary for its support.

Not PARSE.LY: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik gestures during a news conference after Bosnian prosecutors ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions, in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms northwest of Sarajevo, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic)

Bosnian court seeks international arrest warrant for pro-Russian Serb president Dodik

Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, center, speaks during a news conference with Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, left, and Parliament Speaker Nenad Stevandic after Bosnian prosecutors ordered the detention of three top Bosnian Serb officials over a series of separatist actions, in the Bosnian town of Banja Luka, 240 kms northwest of Sarajevo, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Radivoje Pavicic)

Bosnia prosecutor seeks detention of separatist Serb leaders amid mounting tensions

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to the media during a joint news conference with the members of the Bosnian Presidency in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

NATO chief vows ‘unwavering’ support for Bosnia’s integrity after Serb separatist actions

Orban, who has often clashed with the EU because over his hard-line policies, said the Serbs are “essential” in Europe and the EU has failed to recognize that fact. Orban is also an ally of Serbia’s populist leader Aleksandar Vucic.

“I think Serbia is not treated fairly (by the EU). Serbia doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said Orban. “Somehow, Europe does not understand that Serbs are essential in Europe. There is no security in Europe without Serbs. Without Serbs inside — there will be no healthy European Union.”

Dodik awarded Orban with the medal in January during a Bosnian Serb statehood holiday that has been declared unconstitutional by Bosnia’s top court, but Orban was not present to receive it at the time. Dodik has dismissed criticism of the Jan. 9 celebrations, which mark the date in 1992 when Serbs in Bosnia first declared independence, triggering a war.

Bosnia’s current two entities were formed in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended the 1990s’ war that killed more than 100,000 people and left millions displaced. Bosnia’s Serbs have insisted on gaining as much autonomy as possible ever since.

Orban was accompanied by Hungarian businessmen during his Bosnia visit. Dodik awarded Putin with the same medal as Dodik.