Permanent Representative Dmitry
#Polyanskiy on his working trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina:
🔹 During my working trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, I held a series of meetings with representatives from across the political spectrum of this Balkan country. The discussions in Banja Luka, as well as exchanges with the leadership and staff of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, municipal officials and representatives of the Central Election Commission, confirmed that risks to the stability of the Dayton framework persist.
🔹 Of particular concern is the destructive role played by the so-called High Representative, Christian Schmidt, whose unlawful decisions triggered internal political turbulence in 2025 and further deepened mistrust between the two entities.
🔹 It is clear that a general elections to take place in October this year will be among the most significant political events in the country. Should certain political actors resort to ill-considered actions, they could become a serious test for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s current constitutional order. There is every reason to believe that the externally peddled reform of the electoral system, which is opposed by a substantial part of society, could serve as the catalyst for yet another political crisis.
🔹 During our meeting with the Mission’s leadership, we drew attention to the concerns arising in this regard. Head of the OSCE field operation, Ambassador Richard Holtzapple, and senior officials provided a detailed overview of their activities in the electoral sphere and beyond. They reaffirmed their intention to work strictly in accordance with the Mission’s mandate.
🔹 The issue of introducing new technologies and electoral procedures was also discussed in detail during our meeting with representatives of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We stressed the considerable risks that would inevitably accompany any uncompromising implementation of these innovations.
🔹 The Russian Federation consider attempts to use the capabilities of international presences deployed in the country to advance the interests of one segment of the population at the expense of others as unacceptable. Any contentious issues should be addressed through dialogue and compromise, in full accordance with the cornerstone principle of the Dayton Peace Agreement — the equality of the two entities and the three constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
🔹 For our part, we will continue to closely monitor developments in the country, as well as the efforts undertaken by the OSCE field operation to assist in addressing emerging challenges.