'Putin's Angels': The Russian President's biker gang seen in Europe, here's everything we know

The Night Wolves, an infamous nationalist biker gang from Russia which is affiliated with Vladimir Putin and receives funding from the Kremlin, has been spotted in Bosnia on Monday 9 December.

Celebrating in Bosnia

The Night Wolves, also known as 'Putin's Angels', took part in a celebratory parade to mark the ‘Republika Srpska Day’ which is organised by the ethnic Serbs in Bosnia, Newsweek reports.

This event has already twice been declared unconstitutional and illegal by Bosnia’s top court but local politicians still organise it in spite of that.

This part of Bosnia is likely the most pro-Russian part of Europe, and the day has been marked since 1992 when the Bosnian Serbs proclaimed to split from Bosnia and merge with Serbia.

The parade was held in the city of Banka-Luka, which is Bosnia’s second-largest municipality. According to Newsweek, 2,700 people participated this year, including bikers from the Night Wolves gang.

According to reports, the Night Wolves have a Bosnian-Serb branch as part of their membership.

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Decorating Putin

Vladimir Putin has on multiple occasions referred to the Night Wolves as ‘friends’, made appearances at the club’s meetings, and even ridden with them.

According to Euronews, the Night Wolves also fought on the side of pro-Russian forces during the 2014 battle for Crimea and the Donbas.

Meanwhile, the leader of Republika Srpska (RS) in Bosnia, Milorad Dodik, has announced that Putin has won his administration’s highest medal of honour for his ‘patriotic concern and love for the RS’:

Putin is responsible for developing and strengthening cooperation and political and friendly relations between the RS and Russia.

The announcement was highly praised by the Night Wolves, meanwhile, it was widely condemned in the West.

Peter Stano, European Commission spokesman, said that siding with Putin has no place in the EU:

Siding with Putin isolates the Republika Srpska and its leadership internationally. There is no place in the EU for decorating and awarding politicians who are ordering the destruction of a neighbouring country and killing of its people.

Sources used:

-Newsweek: ‘Putin's 'Night Wolves' Biker Gang Spotted in Europe

-Euronews: ‘Night Wolves and praise for Putin mark Milorad Dodik's unconstitutional fête’