Hungary's Orban meets Russian-backed, Bosnian Serb leader

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto met Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik in Budapest on Tuesday to show Hungary's support, the ministers said in social media posts.

Dodik has close ties with Russia, which has also backed him, saying a one-year jail term and political ban he faces in Bosnia are politically-motivated.

Orban, who has the warmest ties of any EU leader with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is a critic of European Union sanctions on Russia, posted two photos with Dodik on his Facebook page.

"Milorad Dodik, President of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia, is in Budapest. President Dodik has been condemned for refusing to dance to the tune that Brussels is whistling. Hungary does not accept this decision," he said.

Last week an appeals court in Bosnia upheld the sentence handed down to Dodik in February for defying the Constitutional Court as well as the peace envoy, whose role is to prevent multi-ethnic Bosnia sliding back into civil war.

Dodik has said he will defy the ruling that bans him from political office for six years. The one-year prison term he faces could be exchanged for a fine under Bosnia's legal system.

Szijjarto said in his Facebook post that "external interference" in the Western Balkans was dangerous.

"The will of the region’s people must be respected - questioning it threatens stability and peace. Met Milorad Dodik today to confirm Hungary’s support," Szijjarto said.

Orban, whom Dodik had decorated with the Serb Republic's highest award, also said on Monday on social media platform X that Hungary does not recognise the court ruling against Dodik.

"Attempts by EU-appointed overseers to remove him for opposing their globalist agenda are unacceptable. He is the rightful, elected leader of the Republika Srpska," Orban wrote.

Last year, the Hungarian government agreed to help finance 140 million euros ($161.39 million) of infrastructure and energy projects in Bosnia´s autonomous Serb Republic.

($1 = 0.8675 euros)

(Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves; editing by Barbara Lewis)

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