Russian Embassy: BiH is a sovereign state, we impose nothing on anyone

(Patria) - We are following with bewilderment the reaction of the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to our request for assistance regarding the unimpeded movement of the Russian medical humanitarian team across the border crossings of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to provide assistance to the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, the Russian Embassy in BiH announced.

"One cannot react otherwise to the fact that the issue of providing humanitarian aid to those who truly need it and to those who request that aid has become a hostage of political contradictions. A situation is developing in which politics (!) works to the detriment of its citizens, their health and well-being," stated the Russian Embassy in BiH after the arrival of the team from Russia, which was supposed to disinfect the premises of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, was postponed indefinitely.

The invitation was extended by the leader of HDZ BiH and the Speaker of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament, Dragan Čović.

"The paradox is that precisely those who are now loudly rejecting aid, just a month ago, were just as loudly complaining that, as they emphasized, Russian aid only arrived in Republika Srpska. As you can see, aid can also be provided in the Federation of BiH, because it was requested there. We remember the previous numerous statements by local leaders that 'all aid is welcome.' So, it turns out that it is not?" stated the Russian embassy in our country.

As they state, they reject insinuations that Russian medical workers are arriving "for completely different reasons," considering them unfounded and malicious, which harms friendly relations between the two countries.

"We impose nothing on anyone. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign state that makes its own decisions. However, purely humanely, we would like politics to change its mind and allow experts to do what they must in the current situation, i.e., save lives without any connection to entities, nationality, or personal preferences," said the Russian Embassy in BiH.