The research on Russian camps in the Balkans, jointly published by BIRN and the Moldovan research center CU SENS, opens up space for a much broader reflection on the role of our region in contemporary forms of political influence, sabotage and hybrid warfare.
Whenever a story begins with the sentence “training camps on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, it is impossible to remain indifferent. However, this time it is not about local paramilitary formations or preparations for conflicts in the Balkans – but about the export of destabilization from the heart of Europe to the Eastern European neighborhood. And all this – quietly, carefully, targeted, under the auspices of sports events and without any formal trace in the official documents of domestic institutions.
According to documentation published in mid-July, in the camps that operated in the Republika Srpska and Serbia, Moldovan citizens underwent physical and psychological training, with the aim of participating in riots and destabilization attempts before the presidential elections there in 2024. Individuals identified as instructors of these activities have ties to the Wagner Group, Russian nationalist and security structures, including names such as Mikhail Potepkin and Konstantin Goloskokov. In some cases, such as that of the Bulgarian neo-Nazi Mircho Angelov, we also see the transnational cooperation of radical right-wing elements.
The way in which these camps recruited participants is particularly disturbing. Young people, often economically disadvantaged, are drawn in under pretexts such as paintball tournaments, self-defense seminars and fitness camps. Participants were reportedly offered $300 to $500, paid in cash or even cryptocurrencies, and some testified that their personal documents were confiscated. These are methods that are not just manipulative – they demonstrate a systematic, methodical approach to psychological engineering.
In this context, it is difficult to talk about these events without serious concern about the role the region plays in wider geopolitical games. If, as stated, the camps operated outside the knowledge of domestic institutions, this is a sign of a serious institutional failure. If, on the other hand, they acted with knowledge – and even tacit approval – then we are facing a much deeper problem: the abuse of state territory to carry out operations that have direct consequences for democratic processes in other countries.
It is interesting, and not at all accidental, that the locations of the camps were chosen precisely in the parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia where the official narrative and political practice show a more open attitude towards Russia. The denial of the presence of the camps by the authorities from Republika Srpska was expected, but that does not make it any less worrying. Because the researchers not only mapped exact locations, but also identified specific people, followed the flow of money, documented recruitment, and linked it to specific destabilizations in Moldova.
All this information should be enough to initiate serious investigations. However, what is more worrying than the camps themselves at the moment is the silence. The institutions are silent. Prosecutions are not advertised. Political parties, with rare exceptions, behave as if it is a problem that does not concern them. Public discussion on this topic is almost non-existent. In countries that have survived wars, foreign interventions and the destruction of institutions, such passivity is more than irresponsibility – it is a renunciation of sovereignty.
In Moldova, on the other hand, this story received a full institutional response. The local authorities already identified destabilization attempts in early 2024, linked them to camps in the Balkans and established contacts with the BiH judiciary. A formal investigation was opened until April 2025. This is what should be the standard – quick reaction, willingness to cooperate, transparency towards the public. Everything that is missing in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
But this story is much more than just reporting on the training of paramilitary groups. It makes us wonder where the fight for democracy, sovereignty and stability is actually taking place today. Research reminds us that borders are not moved by tanks but by disinformation campaigns, training for mass protests, infiltration into political processes and manipulation of vulnerable sections of society.
If we do not recognize this threat now—while the camps can still be located, while witnesses can still speak, while evidence can still be gathered—it will not surprise us the day when similar patterns of behavior are applied to us. Because hybrid war knows no geographical borders – it knows only weaknesses. Weak institutions. Poor responsibility. Weak will to react.
That is why it is extremely important that this story does not end with one announcement and a few media headlines. It is necessary to have a parliamentary debate. To initiate responsibility in entity and state institutions. For the security services – if they didn’t already know – to explain why they didn’t know. For the prosecution to start calling witnesses. And that the public finally gets answers.
However, the responsibility does not lie only with the institutions. It also lies with us, as a society. Journalists have done their part. Data were collected, money flows were analysed, persons and methods of action were identified. Together with colleagues from abroad, it was shown what a real transnational effort to undermine a democratic order looks like. And now it’s the turn of the others – those who have the instruments of power and the duty to act.At the same time, this story calls for a wider debate about the role of the Balkans in global processes.
We can no longer deceive ourselves that we are isolated, that the world bypasses our spaces. Quite the opposite – the Balkans are becoming an operational zone for projects concerning Europe, democratic order and security. Our vulnerability, our divisions and our institutional weakness make us ideal ground for all those who want to operate from the shadows.
And here we come to the key question: will we allow it? Or will we finally recognize the seriousness of the situation and react in time?
Because if today we close our eyes to the fact that destabilization is being exported from BiH, tomorrow we may open our eyes to a country where stability is collapsing from within, in the same way – quietly, systematically and without resistance. And then neither the international community, nor the EU, nor NATO will help us – because the first thing we have to do is stand up for our own institutions.
The story of the camps for the destabilization of Moldova, organized on the territory of BiH, is not the story of others. It’s a story about us. About how ready we are to protect our own sovereignty. About how interested we are in what happens behind the closed doors of sports centers, weekend resorts and isolated fields. And, most importantly, about whether we are ready to act while we still can – or will we wait again for the past to catch up with us.
Because if we do not recognize this story as a serious warning – perhaps the next destabilization will not be directed from BiH, but will be directed at it.
Nino Bilajac. Journalist, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) BiH
The articles published in the “Opinions” column reflect the personal opinion of the author and may not coincide with the position of the Center
