Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has claimed that attempts by “foreign powers” to influence elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) were futile, arguing that the country’s citizens exercised their democratic rights and elected legitimate representatives.
However, her remarks come amid years of warnings from international organizations about Russian political and media influence in the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Before previous elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Freedom House raised concerns about the influence of foreign actors on the country’s political environment.
Russian influence in the region has also extended beyond political ties. The European Parliament has repeatedly raised concerns about Russian propaganda outlets and information operations across the Balkans.
In Serbia, the European Parliament has highlighted the role of Russian state-backed media, including Sputnik Serbia and RT Balkan, in spreading disinformation during election campaigns. A parliamentary document addressing Serbia’s political situation said the outlets contributed to the dissemination of disinformation about opposition candidates ahead of the December 2023 elections.
The document also described the spread of Russian narratives and disinformation as a persistent problem in Serbia, particularly during election periods. It noted that the Kremlin and media outlets under its control portrayed post-election protests as a Western-backed attempt to overthrow the government and organize a new “Maidan.”
Zakharova’s comments about alleged foreign interference in Bosnia and Herzegovina can therefore be considered in the broader context of concerns raised by international institutions about Russia’s activities in the Western Balkans.
While Moscow accuses other countries of attempting to influence elections, international reports have documented Russian political support for certain regional actors, alongside the activities of Russian media outlets during election campaigns.
Zakharova did not provide specific evidence in the cited statement to substantiate her claim that foreign powers had attempted to influence elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The broader debate over election interference in the region continues to involve competing allegations, while publicly available international assessments have raised concerns about political influence, propaganda and disinformation linked to Russia.
