Documents against the Minister: Russian intelligence officer Anton Sokolov obtained diplomatic status in BiH during Konaković's term

(Patria) - Russian intelligence officer Anton Sokolov obtained diplomatic status in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the ministerial term of Elmedin Konaković. This is proven by two documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH that were created after Konaković officially assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, reports the portal Istraga.

Konaković, as a reminder, assumed office on January 26 this year. Eighteen days later (February 13, 2023), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH published a list of diplomats accredited in Bosnia and Herzegovina up to that point. The name Anton Sokolov does not appear on the list of accredited Russian diplomats in BiH. In May of this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated the list of diplomats in BiH, and Anton Sokolov appeared on the list of accredited diplomats.

Therefore, when Konaković assumed office, Anton Sokolov was not an accredited Russian diplomat in BiH. Three months later, this Russian obtained diplomatic status.

If you click here, you can see the complete list of foreign diplomats in BiH registered up to February 13, 2023. Pages 126 to 129 contain the list of Russian diplomats accredited in BiH. The positions of First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in BiH were held by Yury Pichugin, Georgy SHERSTNEV, Eduard SERIK, and Vasilii PIMKIN. Anton Sokolov is not on the list.

Three months later, as mentioned, an updated list of diplomats accredited in BiH was published. If you click here, you can see the entire list. The list of officials at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in BiH starts on page 126. On page 128 is the name Anton Sokolov, who also holds the status of First Secretary at the Russian Embassy in BiH.

Thus, Anton Sokolov obtained diplomatic status in BiH in the period from February to May 2023. During that period, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, which is responsible for issuing diplomatic ID cards, was – Elmedin Konaković, who, after months of ignoring the media, announced on social networks that the controversial Russian diplomats arrived in BiH before he formally assumed the position of minister.

Even if Konaković's claims that Sokolov arrived in BiH before January 26 are true, this Russian diplomat obtained diplomatic status during the term of Elmedin Konaković.


Let us recall, BIRN BiH reported last week that two diplomats who were previously expelled from Croatia and North Macedonia work at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in BiH. Before coming to BiH, Anton Sokolov served in Croatia, from where he was expelled.

The other controversial Russian diplomat is Ilya Serov. Before coming to BiH, he was expelled from North Macedonia. His name appears for the first time on February 13 of this year. Serov, therefore, appeared on the list of foreign diplomats in BiH 18 days after Elmedin Konaković assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, based on this list, it cannot be determined whether Serov obtained diplomatic status in BiH during the term of Elmedin Konaković or his predecessor Bisera Turković (SDA).

Turković, after Konaković's statement, denied that she granted diplomatic status to Serov. Konaković, however, is the only one who can release the ID card of Ilya Serov, based on which it will be seen whether he or Turković granted diplomatic status to this Russian intelligence officer.

But one thing is completely clear. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković, granted diplomatic status to Anton Sokolov, one of the two controversial Russian diplomats. Regardless of the documents and facts, Konaković, via a Facebook post promptly relayed by N1 Sarajevo, denied any connection to the appointment of these diplomats.

However, just a few days earlier, Konaković said at a press conference that "there were certain oversights in the acceptance of Russian diplomats." At least one such oversight occurred during his term, reports the portal Istraga.