Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He denies the allegations.
Several new outlets, including The Times, The Telegraph, Der Standard, CNN Chile and The Sun US reports that Milan prosecutors have received a new complaint tied to the grim allegations known as the “Sarajevo Safari.”
The claims, dating back to the Bosnian war, continue to draw fresh scrutiny as new testimonies and records surface.
Croatian investigative journalist Domagoj Margetić has asked Milan authorities to examine whether Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had any link to the events.
He argues that recently published material places Vučić, then a young volunteer, at a Sarajevo-area base connected to the alleged attacks on civilians.
CNN Chile cites Vucic, 55, for denying the allegations when speaking to the Serbian press.
Alleged sniper tourism
Margetić shared images and documents on social media, suggesting Vučić appeared at a site witnesses have associated with foreign shooters and Serbian ultranationalist groups.
Those groups have been accused of escorting outsiders who allegedly fired on civilians during the 1990s siege.
Margetic told EFE that “Vucic was one of those who provided logistics on the ground to the ‘hunters’ and one of those who occasionally escorted those they wanted to shoot from Belgrade to Sarajevo.”
Money and movement
After Margetic filed his complaint to the investigators in Milan, Italian writer, Ezio Gavazzeni, did the same, Der Standard reports.
According to the outlet, Gavazzeni told investigators that travel arrangements involved flights on a “Serbian airline,” with participants ferried from Belgrade to frontline positions by helicopter
He also said Italian authorities are believed to hold records showing both legal and illicit payments tied to the trips.
Investigators cited by Italian media estimated each excursion cost between 80,000 and 100,000 euros, while shots aimed at children allegedly carried a higher price.
War-time backdrop
According to The Times, the Siege of Sarajevo, waged from 1992 to 1996, remains one of the most lethal chapters of the Bosnian conflict.
Roughly 11,000 people were killed as the city endured years of shelling and sniper fire.
Aleksandar Vucic has been a powerhouse in Serbian politics since 2012 and been the President since 2017. He is known for having a pro-Kremlin stance and has remained close ties to Putin efter the war in Ukraine broke out.
Sources: The Times, The Sun US, Der Standard, CNN Chile, The Guardian, The Telegraph, social media, local Italian media reports, Reuters
