Blinken criticized Dodik, compared him with Putin

In a statement on recent events in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken compared Milorad Dodik’s activities with “Putin’s totalitarian approach.”

“Milorad Dodik’s assaults on fundamental liberties and rights in Republika Srpska demonstrate his authoritarian leanings. Ambassador (Michael) Murphy, on behalf of the State Department, continues to promote a democratic and prosperous future for all Bosnian and Herzegovina inhabitants, according to a tweet from Blinken.

The letter from the US official came in the midst of a contentious debate over the laws passed and declared in the Republic of Serbia, including changes to the Criminal Code that made defamation a crime and Dodik’s anti-LGBT legislation.

Human rights organizations, human embassies, and other international institutions all responded to the legislative amendments in a variety of ways.