Russia Demands Bosnia OHR Office Closure After Schmidt Departure

Russia has called for the immediate closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the resignation of German diplomat Christian Schmidt, who held the role since 2021.

On Tuesday, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Russia’s ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said Western involvement in Bosnia’s governance should end.

“We demand that Western countries cease their intervention in the domestic affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Nebenzya said, according to AFP.

“We insist on the immediate closure of the OHR,” he said. “It is past time for them to gain genuine sovereignty and independence.”

Nebenzya described Schmidt’s departure as a “step in the right direction,” noting that Moscow had never recognized his appointment.

The OHR was established under the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian war, to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement.

Schmidt announced on Monday that he would step down in June, following a prolonged dispute with pro-Russian Bosnian leader Milorad Dodik, who has repeatedly challenged the authority of the OHR.

Russia has long opposed the office, accusing it of bias against the Serbian population in Bosnia.

However, the US signaled continued support for the institution. Deputy US Ambassador Tammy Bruce praised Schmidt’s tenure, saying he helped strengthen Bosnia’s post‑war institutions.

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“The next high representative’s task will be to transfer responsibility for running and maintaining those institutions to local leaders,” Bruce said.

She added that Washington would evaluate potential successors based on their credibility and ability to gain trust across Bosnia’s communities, though she acknowledged that the role may eventually no longer be necessary.

Schmidt said discussions over his successor would take place at the Peace Implementation Council meeting scheduled for early June.