Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met in Budapest with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, according to their own posts on social media, to express Hungary's support.
Orban, who is considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally among European Union leaders and a harsh critic of EU sanctions against Russia, posted two photos with Dodik on his Facebook page, Reuters reports.
"Milorad Dodik, the president of Republika Srpska in Bosnia, is in Budapest. President Dodik was convicted because he did not want to play by Brussels' rules. Hungary does not accept this decision," Orban said.
Last week, an appeals court in Bosnia upheld a February ruling that convicted Dodik of disrespecting the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the High Representative, whose role is to prevent Bosnia from returning to conflict.
Dodik said he would not respect the decision banning him from political activity for the next six years. According to BiH law, a one-year prison sentence can be replaced by a fine.
Szijjarto posted on Facebook that "external interference" in the Western Balkans is dangerous.
"The will of the people of the region must be respected - challenging it threatens stability and peace. I met with Milorad Dodik today to confirm Hungary's support," Szijjártó said.
Orban, whom Dodik had previously awarded Republika Srpska's highest award, wrote on the X network on Monday that Hungary does not recognize the verdict against Dodik.
"Attempts by imposed EU supervisors to remove him because he opposes their globalist agenda are unacceptable. He is the legitimately elected leader of Republika Srpska," Orban wrote.
Last year, the Hungarian government agreed to finance infrastructure and energy projects worth 140 million euros in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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