DODIK: KUSTURIĆ WAS A GREAT PATRIOT WHO WILL FOREVER REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS

BANJA LUKA, MAY 7 /SRNA/ – SNSD leader Milorad Dodik has stated today in Banja Luka that the late head of the Aviation Department of the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska Boban Kusturić was a great patriot who would forever remain in the hearts of all people because of his immense humanity.

Dodik said that Kusturić never separated Republika Srpska from his family. "The love he had for his family, he also had for Republika Srpska. He was a great patriot, loyal and fought until his last day," Dodik said at the commemoration marking Kusturić’s death held at the Banski Dvor Cultural Center, attended by officials of Republika Srpska. Dodik stated that he had spent many hours with Kusturić and was certain that he had been the best pilot. "He never spoke about his own problems. I cannot believe that I am standing here saying this. I have delivered many speeches, but this is not a speech - this is the moment when I will say that he will remain with us. He saved so many people. A difficult, wonderful, but honorable job, because only a few can save lives," Dodik emphasized. Dodik said that moments such as these, when saying farewell to a great man, take away one's breath and words. "I knew Boban for years, I knew much about him, his family, and his friends, but I did not know he was heading toward this moment," Dodik said. He added that the Kusturić family should remain proud of a man who belonged not only to them, but to everyone. "What remains is remembrance, and that we never forget Boban Kusturić," Dodik said. In addition to members of the Kusturić family, the commemoration at the Banski Dvor Cultural Center was attended by President of Republika Srpska Siniša Karan, Speaker of the National Assembly Nenad Stevandić, Prime Minister Savo Minić, Serb member of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović, Director of Police Siniša Kostrešević, ministers in the Government of Republika Srpska, and representatives of public and political life. Boban Kusturić will be buried today at 2:00 p.m. at the Vrbanja City Cemetery in Banjaluka. Kusturić /52/ died on May 5. He worked as a pilot in the Army of Republika Srpska from 1997 to 2005. After that, he continued his career at the Directorate for Civil Aviation of Republika Srpska as head of the SAR Rescue Helicopter Unit of Republika Srpska. He served as director of the Helicopter Service of Republika Srpska from 2008 until April 2025, and following its reorganization and the establishment of the Aviation Department, he served as its head. Kusturić led numerous rescue operations for endangered residents trapped in snowdrifts, floods, and fires that required urgent evacuation. The public also remembers him for almost daily medical transport missions involving seriously ill patients and pregnant women to major clinical centers, through which many lives were saved. He was awarded the Order of Miloš Obilić by the President of Republika Srpska.