Italian authorities have launched a major investigation into a disturbing chapter of the Bosnian War, probing allegations that wealthy Italians paid to shoot civilians for sport during the brutal siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. These individuals, dubbed 'sniper tourists', are accused of one of the most heinous forms of war tourism.
The Milan Investigation into War Crimes
Prosecutors in Milan, led by Alessandro Gobbi, have officially opened a probe to identify the Italians involved. The investigation, triggered by a complaint from Milan-based writer Ezio Gavazzeni and a report from former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karić, could lead to charges of voluntary murder aggravated by cruelty and abject motives.
This legal action revisits one of the darkest periods in modern European history. The siege of Sarajevo lasted from 1992 to 1996, making it the longest siege in modern history. It claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, with snipers terrorizing the city's population.
Uncovering the 'Safari' for Civilians
The shocking allegations gained traction after the release of the 2022 documentary 'Sarajevo Safari' by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič. Gavazzeni stated that the film was the starting point for his own investigation, which he then presented to the Milan prosecutors.
According to the claims, these 'sniper tourists' allegedly paid large sums of money to soldiers in the army of Radovan Karadžić—the former Bosnian Serb leader later convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. In return, they were escorted to the hills surrounding Sarajevo and allowed to target civilians.
Gavazzeni alleges that 'many, many, many Italians' were among the foreign participants, alongside individuals from Germany, France, England, and other Western nations. He described them as 'rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction', with no political or religious motives. 'They were people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa,' he was quoted as saying.
The Path to Justice and Evidence
The alleged participants would reportedly meet in Trieste, Italy, and travel to Belgrade, from where Bosnian Serb soldiers would take them to the sniper positions overlooking the besieged city. Gavazzeni condemns this as a 'traffic of war tourists' and a profound 'indifference towards evil'.
Evidence collected so far is reported to be substantial. Lawyer Nicola Brigida, who is assisting Gavazzeni, confirmed that the evidence 'is well substantiated and could lead to serious investigation to identify the culprits'. Several Italian individuals have already been identified and are expected to be questioned by prosecutors in the coming weeks.
While Serbian war veterans have denied these claims, the Milan investigation represents a significant step towards holding alleged perpetrators accountable, decades after the horrific events of the Bosnian War and the Sarajevo siege.
