BLAGOJEVICH: SERB DEFIANCE AWAKENED; SERBS HAVE ALWAYS FOUGHT AND WON

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 25 /SRNA/ - Former governor of the U.S. state of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, told SRNA that during his political persecution and imprisonment in the U.S., a sense of Serb defiance awakened in him, so he found strength in faith and family, as well as in the desire to prove what really happened.

Blagojevich emphasized that he spent eight years in prison, which he described as challenging and difficult.

"The Bible gave me strength, hope, and faith. It only strengthened my faith," Blagojevich said in an SRNA podcast.

He stressed that his family gave him strength, along with his determination not to let those who set him up and politically persecuted him get away with it.

"That’s the Serb in me! I was thinking of the Serb people and their struggle. I speak of the long history of the Serbs - under the Byzantine, Ottoman, or Austro-Hungarian empires, the Nazis, NATO, and now the EU. I was thinking of all of that and how the Serbs overcame it all," said Blagojevich, who is also a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Blagojević said he found inspiration during his visit to Republika Srpska, noting that he visited the Church of Christ the Savior in Banja Luka, which was burned down by the Ustashas during World War II.

"That church was rebuilt and rose from the ashes. That’s the Serb story. I was thinking about that when I was broken in prison and thinking about my family. That’s how I found strength," Blagojevich revealed.

GACKO AND VIŠEGRAD ARE SPECIAL TO ME

Blagojevich notes that Gacko and Višegrad hold special significance for him, as his family originates from that area, and he has relatives there, so he looks forward to visiting.

"It will warm my heart when I visit Gacko and Višegrad. I'm looking forward to it," said Blagojevich.

AT HOME I WAS MILORAD, AT SCHOOL ROD

Blagojevich says he learned Serbian from his father, but improved his knowledge during his few days in Republika Srpska, and reveals that he was called Milorad at home.

"My mother and father speak Serbian, as does my brother. I think President /Milorad/ Dodik would appreciate this. At home they called me Milorad, and at school, Rod," Blagojevich said.