Putin's Poll Triumph Divides Balkan Countries

Pro-Russian politicians from the Balkans have congratulated Vladimir Putin after he won more than 74 per cent of the vote in Sunday's presidential elections - while leaders of some other Balkan countries more closely aligned with NATO remained silent.

The fiercely pro-Russian President of Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, on Monday, said that "the transformation and the progress that Russia has made under his leadership all these years proves the correctness of his policy".

According to Srna news agency, Dodik said the close relations and fraternal cooperation between the Republika Srpska and Russia will continue, and, "further empower and deepen the wellbeing of both nations and open new roads towards even better cooperation at all levels".

Ethnic Serbian community and anti-NATO activists in Montenegro took to social media on Sunday to express their satisfaction with Putin's new six-year term as Russian president.

The leader of the opposition pro-Russian Democratic People Party, Milan Knezevic, congratulated Putin, saying it was an "impressive result which shows the free will of the Russian people." He added: "If Montenegrin citizens could vote, his victory would be even greater."

In neighbouring Serbia, both the President and Prime Minister expressed their congratulations. President Aleksandar Vucic recalled that Serbia is "an honest friend and reliable partner" to Russia.

"You can rely on our contribution to the deepening of cooperation, as well as our commitment to realizing joint projects. I am confident that ... we will create better conditions for the generations to come," Vucic told Putin on his official website on Sunday.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said in a...

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