Milorad Dodik faces scrutiny over claims of defending Christianity

Metropolitan Lukijan of Buda has praised Milorad Dodik, leader of the SNSD, describing him as a man of his word and a defender of Christian values. During a meeting, the Metropolitan noted that Hungary recognizes Dodik and Republika Srpska as pillars of Christianity and Orthodoxy in a shifting European landscape. He specifically highlighted Dodik’s financial support for the Archive of the Eparchy of Buda in Szentendre.

In contrast, critics have challenged Dodik’s recent rhetoric, which frames the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a struggle of Christianity against Islam. Observers point to the historical displacement of Catholic populations to contest this narrative. Data from the Banja Luka Diocese indicates a significant decline in Catholic believers, falling from approximately 129,000 in 1992 to just over 22,000 by late 2025, with the number of Catholics in Banja Luka itself dropping from 30,000 to fewer than 1,000.