Bosnian Serb Entity on Alert for Lavrov Visit

Russia's top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, starts his first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, visiting Sarajevo and East Sarajevo and Banja Luka, in Bosnia's Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska.

RS Interior Minister Dragan Lukac said tight security measures would be place, like those used during Pope John Paul II's visit in 1997 and during the recent visit of Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Russian parliament's upper house in April this year.

"In East Sarajevo and Banja Luka during the visit traffic will be stopped not only for vehicles but also for pedestrians and cyclist on the route of the Russian delegation," the Interior Ministry warned on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the city of Banja Luka will be decorated with Russian and Republika Srpska flags, as was done during Matviyenko's visit.

Some restaurants will close during Lavrov's visit to Banja Luka and East Sarajevo.

However, most attention will focus on the construction site of a new Russian church and cultural centre in Banja Luka, which Lavrov had been due to inaugurate.

Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, urged citizens in the entity to come on Friday in front of the construction site to greet Lavrov.

"Dear citizens, we invite you to greet the great and sincere friend of Republika Srpska and the Serbian people," Dodik said in a special promo video.

Поштовани грађани, позивамо вас да заједно дочекамо и поздравимо великог и искреног пријатеља Републике #Srpska и српског народа, @MID_RF Сергеја Лаврова који ће сутра посјетити Републику Српску и #Banjaluka! pic.twitter.com/ZOUTTH64yE

— СНСД - Милорад Додик (@SNSDDodik) 20. септембар 2018.

Police said they will search apartments near the new church, dedicated to the...