Russian President Vladimir Putin personally awarded the Pushkin Medal to Drago Mastilović, Republika Srpska’s Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society.
The award ceremony took place at the Kremlin in Moscow. Mastilović received the medal in recognition of his contribution to strengthening cultural, educational and scientific ties between Republika Srpska and the Russian Federation.
Following the ceremony, Mastilović described the decoration as a personal honour and recognition of the long-standing cooperation between Banja Luka and Moscow. He thanked Putin and Russia’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Kalabukhov, for their support in developing bilateral relations.
The award comes amid the close ties Republika Srpska’s leadership has maintained with Moscow, particularly under Milorad Dodik, who has held several meetings with Putin and publicly expressed support for Kremlin policies.
Bosnian-American political scientist Jasmin Mujanović reacted to the development, drawing attention to the contrast between Dodik’s associates strengthening their ties with Russia and developments in their relations with the United States.
Mujanović wrote that Dodik, whom he described as a Russian- and Chinese-backed secessionist leader, was heading to Mar-a-Lago, while one of his most senior associates was being honoured by Putin in Moscow.
He called for sanctions against Dodik and other individuals linked to him to be reinstated.
“Reinstating sanctions against Dodik and others is not merely a political priority for US strategic interests in the Western Balkans. It is a moral imperative,” Mujanović wrote.
The political scientist’s reaction comes as Russian influence in the Western Balkans and the Republika Srpska leadership’s relationship with Moscow remain subjects of political and diplomatic debate.
