Bosnians vote as pro-Russian politician looms large and ethnic tensions simmer

Cover image: A woman places her ballot into an electronic ballot box during the general election in Sarajevo on October 4, 2026. © Armin Durgut, AP

Bosnians head to the polls Sunday in elections that ​could impact how much influence Russia has over the small Balkan nation, with separatist Serb leader Milorad Dodik dominating the campaign despite his ban from public office. Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country marred by ethnic tensions, has struggled to recover since its brutal 1992-95 conflict.

Polls opened Sunday morning in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a general election in which most citizens of the multi-ethnic Balkan nation are focused on everyday problems, while some mainstream politicians are whipping up war-era tensions that have kept the country divided since its brutal 1992-95 conflict.