Hundreds of Bosnian Serbs waved flags of Serbia and Russia and banners of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday as they staged a protest in support of their separatist leader who seeks union with neighboring Serbia.

       The protests were held at the unmarked internal border in Bosnia that separates the country into two entities — the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat federation — as called for under the U.S.-mediated peace deal that ended the country’s 1992-95 war.

       The Serb protesters chanted slogans against Bosnia being a single state. They briefly blocked traffic between the two entities, but there were no major incidents reported.

       “We were always on the side of winners,” said Ljubisa Cosic, a Bosnia Serb official. “We were always on the side of freedom. So our connection to the Russian Federation and Russian people is great.”

       Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, who has close ties to Putin, has openly been striving to separate Bosnian Serb territories from the rest of Bosnia and join them with neighboring Serbia. Because of that, he was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2017.

       Related Russia declares Nobel-winning editor Dmitry Muratov to be a foreign agent One dead, four injured in stabbings at notorious jail in Atlanta that's under federal investigation OAS says legal actions in Guatemala appear aimed at keeping president-elect from taking power

       There are widespread fears that Serbia, an ally of Russia, could inflame tensions in the Balkans to divert at least some of the world attention from the war in Ukraine.

       Bosnian prosecutors are in the process of filing charges against Dodik for his separatist actions and for defying decisions by an international official overseeing peace in the country.

       He could face up to five years in jail if sentenced by a Bosnian court on those charges.

       More about AP Serbia Vladimir Putin Russia Sarajevo Ukraine Balkans

       1/ 1Bosnian Serbs stage protests in support of their separatist leader

       Bosnian Serbs stage protests in support of their separatist leader Bosnia Protest

       Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

       Promoted stories

       Doctor Report

       The Rumors About Harry Kane's Wife Are ConfirmedDoctor Report| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       PanzerQuest

       If you have a mouse, this game will keep you awake all night long.PanzerQuest| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       TopNews

       Tiger Woods' Ex-wife is Almost 50 And Time Has Not Been Kind To HerTopNews| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in