Russian President Vladimir Putin was honored in absentia by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Sunday during a ceremony marking Republika Srpska’s national day in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reuters reported.

Putin received the medal for “special patriotic concern and love for the Republika Srpska” and merits in the development and strengthening of cooperation and political relations between the “friendly states of the Republika Srpska and the Russian Federation,” the moderators said.

Republika Srpska is a region that forms Bosnia together with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dodik, the separatist president of the region who has long favored ties with Russia over the West, praised Putin for being a staunch supporter of Republika Srpska and said he would present him with a medal at their next meeting.

“Thanks to the position of Vladimir Putin and the strength of the Russian Federation, the voice and position of the Republika Srpska was heard and respected,” he said.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Dodik tried to block attempts by Bosnia’s tripartite president to join EU sanctions against Russia.

At the same time, Russian envoys supported Dodik in his separatist moves aimed at weakening the central government.

Last month, Russia condemned the EU’s decision to grant Bosnia the status of a candidate country for EU membership. Earlier, Moscow warned that it would consider Bosnia’s attempts to join NATO as a “hostile act”, reports Agerpres.