Criminal investigation into "civilian safaris" in Sarajevo during Bosnian war
Prosecutors in Milan are investigating allegations that wealthy Europeans paid Serbian paramilitaries to shoot at civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s.
Criminal investigation into "civilian safaris" in Sarajevo during Bosnian war
The judicial authorities in Milan have opened a criminal investigation into a shocking case from the past, relating to the multi-year siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian civil war of the 1990s. The inquiry began in October 2025 and focuses on allegations of so-called "civilian safaris".
According to the allegations, wealthy Europeans—including Italians—travelled to Bosnia during the siege of the Muslim-majority part of Sarajevo by the Serbian army. These visitors allegedly paid up to 100,000 euros to Serbian paramilitaries in order to use military sniper rifles and shoot at innocent civilians, including women and children, who were moving through the streets of the besieged city.
The case emerged through the documentary "Sarajevo Safari" by Slovenian director Miran Zupanic in 2022, as well as through the book by Italian writer Ezio Gavazzeni entitled "Weekend Marksmen: An Investigation into Sarajevo's Human Safaris", published in 2026.
The matter also concerns the European organisation Eurojust, which coordinates cooperation between judicial authorities. On 29 June, investigators from Italy, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium met at Eurojust's headquarters in The Hague. It is noted that Belgium is also conducting a parallel criminal investigation into the same case.
Source: Philenews
Source: Philenews