President of Republika Srpska Siniša Karan presented Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko with the Order of Honor with Golden Rays. The prestigious decoration was awarded to the renowned Russian athlete for his personal achievements in combat sports, as well as for his contribution to strengthening the friendship between the Russian and Serb peoples.
Presenting the decoration, Karan said that Emelianenko is more than an athlete to the Serb people — not only a true sporting legend, but also a sincere friend with whom they share the same values.
Throughout his sporting career, Emelianenko was almost unbeatable, while the decoration presented to him by Republika Srpska reflects the recognition that his influence extends far beyond the arenas in which he competed.
Karan described Emelianenko as a proven friend of the Serb people and one of the world’s best-known athletes to publicly promote Christian values. He said the decoration represents an expression of lasting respect and gratitude for that friendship.
“Your publicly expressed words about your closeness to the Serb people, our shared spiritual and Orthodox Christian roots, as well as the support you have provided at important moments, are deeply engraved in our collective consciousness. These are messages that go beyond sport,” Karan said.
One example highlighted during the ceremony dates back to 2019, when Emelianenko entered the Saitama Arena in Japan for a fight accompanied by the sounds of the “Anthem of the Kosovo Heroes.”
Emelianenko once again emphasized his connection with the Serb people and shared Christian values, while making no secret of how much the decoration meant to him.
“It is a great honor for me to receive this award from your hands on behalf of your people. I believe that we will always stand together, the Russian people and the Serb people. I serve my beloved Russia, and I serve beloved and brotherly Serbia,” Emelianenko said.
Milorad Dodik also expressed his gratitude to Emelianenko for his contribution to strengthening ties between the two peoples. He said the decoration represented recognition of the Russian fighter’s achievements and his significance among Orthodox Christian communities, adding that it was an honor that Emelianenko had accepted it.
“On the 29th of this month, I will be with Vladimir in Moscow. I will proudly tell him about my meeting with you, and that will give me particular pleasure,” Dodik said.
Following the award ceremony, the renowned Russian athlete visited the Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior Training Center in Zalužani, where he toured the Church of the Archangel Michael and the memorial dedicated to fallen police officers.
Emelianenko also had an opportunity to see the combat-skills training of Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior personnel firsthand.
The visit brought one of the most celebrated figures in combat sports to Republika Srpska. At the height of his career, Emelianenko’s dominance and global popularity led to comparisons with some of the most recognizable names in international sport, including Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan.
Source: RTRS
