Zukan Helez, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Defense, spoke to Hayat TV about the so-called “Sarajevo Safari”, alleging that foreign mercenaries were paid to target civilians during the siege of Sarajevo. Helez also accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić of participating in these operations.
“Vučić carries hatred inherited from his upbringing. He does not like others, particularly Bosniaks, and expressed this during the war. He roamed Sarajevo, shot, and ordered attacks on innocent civilians, including children. He acted as a predator from the hills,” Helez stated.
He added that Vučić has continued to harm Bosnia politically over the past thirty years, leveraging figures like Milorad Dodik to block reforms and manipulate political processes. Helez criticized Vučić for misleading international actors, including the US and Russia, about his intentions.
Comments on Legal Accountability
Helez expressed skepticism regarding Bosnia’s judiciary, citing political interference in the Prosecutor’s Office, which he says undermines the rule of law.
Transit Routes and Regional Involvement
Addressing the role of neighboring countries, Helez stated that foreign fighters could have reached Sarajevo via eastern Bosnia or Serbia, without passing through Croatia. He also criticized political interference from Croatian politicians like Željana Zovko, accusing them of meddling in Bosnia’s internal affairs.
National Resilience
Helez emphasized that, despite past aggressions, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina would defend their state, asserting that the fate of the country rests with its own people, not foreign powers.
