Bosnia and Herzegovina–Russia relations

At the beginning of 12 January 1996, Russia had sent troops in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, via Tuzla.[1] The move was motivated, in part, by the desire to improve relations with the United States. Location of Russian troops deployment became subject of an international debate: The Russians wanted to be deployed in the Bosnian Serb territory, and the U.S. wanted them deployed in Bosnian Croat territory. During the 1999 Kosovo events, the 1996 agreement on joint operations in Bosnia was cited as an example of successful Russia-NATO cooperation.[2]

Russian position on post-war reconstruction of Bosnia remains, as at 2008, in line with the Western policy. In particular, in October 2007 Russia upheld the Western denial of ethnic voting (defended by the Serbian minority and the government of Serbia).[3]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Igor Kalabukhov, Russia’s ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that Russia would “react” if Bosnia decides to join NATO, in an apparent reference to using military force. [4]

• Bosnia and Herzegovina has an embassy in Moscow.
• Russia has an embassy in Sarajevo.

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  Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Moscow
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  Embassy of Russia in Sarajevo

• Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Foreign relations of Russia
• Soviet Union–Yugoslavia relations
• Bosnia and Herzegovina–NATO relations
• Bosnia and Herzegovina–United States relations