Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Photo: Russian President’s website

The presence of Russian-trained Serbian paramilitaries, officials from South Ossetia, and the infamous “Night Wolves” biker gang at the recent and unconstitutional January 9 commemorations in Banja Luka, the capital of Bosnia’s mainly Serb entity, Republika Srpska, RS, have revealed the startling depth of Russian links to RS president Milorad Dodik and his government.

Additional reports since have exposed even more disturbing facts: the rapid militarization of the RS police, and an agreement of cooperation between the RS Ministry of the Interior and Russian security officials to train a “special forces” unit within the RS police.

These developments represent not only a profound deterioration in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s security climate but arguably the most direct challenge to the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement since its signing.

It is important to establish clearly why this is happening and why it is happening now.