MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 24th August, 2018) The Russian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) told Sputnik on Thursday it had expressed regret to the country's Foreign Ministry that the BiH authorities had denied entry to well-known Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin and called for the explanations on the issue.
Earlier in the day, Prilepin was denied entry to BiH at a crossing point at the border with Serbia.
"Prilepin is a writer, who is well-known not only in Russia, but worldwide, including in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was heading to BiH at the invitation of the head of the national library in the city of Banja Luka to participate in the ... library's readings as a guest of honor. Previously, he has visited BiH on multiple occasions," the embassy said.
"The embassy expresses its concern and deep regret in relation to the incident. [We] have requested explanations from the BiH Foreign Ministry," the embassy said.
Meanwhile, Milorad Dodik, the leader of Republika Srpska, one of two constitutional and legal entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that denying entry to the writer was "a shameful decision."
Banja Luka is the second largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the de-facto capital of the Republika Srpska.
