Blagojevich has new job working for ‘Bosnian Bear’ politician
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who recently received a pardon from President Donald Trump, has taken on a new role representing the interests of a politician known as the “Bosnian Bear,” who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Blagojevich has agreed to lobby on behalf of the Republic of Srpska, a Serb-majority region in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as reported by Politico. The area has a history of ethnic tensions, and Blagojevich’s firm, RRB Strategies LLC, will provide communications and public affairs support for the Republic of Srpska, in compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
In a recent statement, Blagojevich revealed that Interpol had rejected a request from the Bosnian High Representative to arrest Milorad Dodik, also known as the “Bosnian Bear,” who is the elected President of the Republic of Srpska. Dodik, with his large physique, has been advocating for Srpska to break away from Bosnia and Herzegovina and join Serbia.
Dodik’s actions have drawn criticism from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused him of undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions and threatening its security. Rubio called for constructive dialogue among political leaders in the region and urged partners to push back against Dodik’s destabilizing behavior.
Blagojevich, who was previously sentenced to a year in prison for defying the country’s Constitutional Court, has now fled to Moscow. He has been vocal in condemning efforts to prosecute populist conservative leaders like Trump, Marine Le Pen in France, and Dodik.
Despite reports that Trump considered appointing Blagojevich as the U.S. ambassador to Serbia, the position ultimately went to former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
Blagojevich’s new role as a lobbyist for the Republic of Srpska underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Balkans, where ethnic tensions and power struggles continue to shape the region’s political landscape.
