Milan prosecutors have initiated a significant investigation targeting Italian nationals who are allegedly linked to the Bosnian Serb army and paid for trips to Sarajevo during the city’s devastating siege in the 1990s. This four-year siege, which lasted from 1992 to 1996, resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 individuals due to rampant shelling and sniper attacks, and it is recognized as the longest siege in modern history.
The siege rendered ordinary life in Sarajevo perilous, primarily due to the presence of snipers who indiscriminately targeted civilians, including children. In what has been termed a disturbing phenomenon, groups known as “sniper tourists” reportedly traveled from Italy and other Western countries to participate in these horrific acts. These individuals allegedly paid substantial sums to soldiers under the command of Radovan Karadžić, the former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of genocide, in exchange for the opportunity to fire at the innocent populace from vantage points in the surrounding hills.
Leading the investigation is prosecutor Alessandro Gobbi, who aims to gather evidence against these alleged participants who are facing charges of voluntary murder compounded by cruelty. The inquiry was prompted by a legal complaint lodged by Ezio Gavazzeni, a Milan-based writer who has been collecting evidence on this shocking issue, as well as a report filed by former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karić.
Gavazzeni first learned about the “sniper tourists” through 1990s Italian media and reignited his interest after viewing “Sarajevo Safari,” a 2022 documentary by Slovenian filmmaker Miran Zupanič. The documentary featured testimonies claiming that Westerners engaged in shooting civilians from elevated positions around Sarajevo. While these allegations have been denied by Serbian war veterans, Gavazzeni insists that many individuals from Italy, Germany, France, and the UK participated purely for pleasure, not political reasons.
The documentarian’s revelations prompted Gavazzeni to undertake a deeper investigation, and he indicated that he has identified several individuals believed to be involved in these actions. The suspects are purportedly organized, meeting in Trieste before traveling to Belgrade, where they would be escorted to positions overlooking Sarajevo, demonstrating a disturbing willingness to engage in such predatory behavior against vulnerable civilians.
One of the most notable tragedies from the conflict was the death of a couple, Bošco Brkić and Admira Ismić, who were killed by a sniper in 1993 while trying to cross a bridge — their story became emblematic of the senseless violence of the siege. The area that led into Sarajevo was infamously dubbed “Sniper Alley,” as it posed deadly risks to anyone trying to navigate it.
As this investigation unfolds, Gavazzeni and his legal counsel, Nicola Brigida, emphasize the rigor of the evidence collected, which they believe is robust enough to facilitate serious inquiries into the matter. The investigation represents an important step in addressing the scars left by the siege and ensuring accountability for those who sought to derive satisfaction from atrocities committed during that tragic period. The work of individuals like Gavazzeni sheds light on the often-overlooked complicity of outsiders in the violent history of war, serving as a grave reminder of the need for justice and reflection.