Orban's escape plan for Dodik risks Balkan conflict
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban nearly ignited a conflict in the Balkans with potentially unpredictable outcomes, 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 you need to know
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban planned the evacuation of Milorad Dodik from Bosnia and Herzegovina following a court in Sarajevo sentencing him to one year in prison.
- The Hungarian anti-terrorist unit TEK was prepared to act in Banja Luka to facilitate Dodik’s escape through Croatia to Hungary.
- The plan was exposed, and Croatia was ready to arrest Dodik and TEK officers, which threatened to escalate the conflict significantly.
The Balkans on the brink of conflict
As reported 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 set to execute the operation in Banja Luka. The goal was to facilitate Dodik's escape through Croatia to Hungary following the court's decision in Sarajevo.
The evacuation plan was leaked to the media, and the United States had been aware of TEK’s preparations from the outset. Croatian authorities were informed and prepared to arrest Dodik alongside TEK officers. Szabolcs Panyi emphasized that the situation could have led to a significant 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
Following the court ruling in Sarajevo, the parliament of the Republic of Srpska passed laws prohibiting the operation of several central BiH institutions within its territory.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, appealed to the European Union for help in apprehending Dodik. In March, a nationwide arrest warrant was issued for the convicted president.
