Hungary's controversial plan to evacuate Dodik sparks tension
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was on the brink of igniting a conflict in the Balkans with unpredictable consequences, stated Szabolcs Panyi, a journalist for the VSquare portal, on Monday. Earlier reports from the portal indicated that Orban had planned the evacuation of Milorad Dodik from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What do you need to know?
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban planned the evacuation of Milorad Dodik from Bosnia and Herzegovina after a court in Sarajevo sentenced him to one year in prison.
- The Hungarian anti-terrorist unit TEK was ready to act in Banja Luka to enable Dodik’s escape through Croatia to Hungary.
- The plan was revealed, and Croatia was prepared to arrest Dodik and TEK officers, which could have led to a serious escalation of the conflict.
The Balkans on the brink of conflict
According to information provided by the VSquare portal, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban planned the evacuation of Milorad Dodik, the President of the Republic of Srpska, from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Hungarian anti-terrorist unit TEK, led by Janos Hajdu, was prepared to carry out the operation in Banja Luka. The aim was to enable Dodik's escape through Croatia to Hungary following the court ruling in Sarajevo.
The evacuation plan leaked to the media, and the United States was aware of TEK’s preparations from the start. Croatian authorities were informed and ready to arrest Dodik and TEK officers. As Szabolcs Panyi emphasized, this situation could have led to a serious escalation of the conflict in the Balkans.
A European official told the journalist that the situation would have represented a serious escalation, with the potential to ignite a conflict carrying completely unpredictable consequences. The official noted that Hungary was taking a dangerous risk. According to the journalist from VSquare, when they asked a Hungarian official about the extent of American anger, the response indicated it was considerable.
Heated situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
After the court ruling in Sarajevo, the parliament of the Republic of Srpska passed laws prohibiting the operation of several central BiH institutions on its territory.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, called on the European Union for help in apprehending Dodik. In March, a nationwide arrest warrant was issued for the convicted president.
