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Italy opens murder probe into alleged sniper safaris in besieged Sarajevo
Milan prosecutors have launched an investigation into accusations that Italian citizens paid to participate in "sniper safaris" targeting civilians during the 1992-1996 siege of Sarajevo, according to a complaint filed by journalist Ezio Gavazzeni. The alleged participants-described as "very wealthy" firearms enthusiasts-reportedly traveled from Italy to Bosnia-Herzegovina to shoot at unarmed residents from Serb-held positions surrounding the city.
Allegations of priced killings and foreign involvement
Testimonies gathered by Gavazzeni, including statements from a Bosnian military intelligence officer, suggest that different fees were charged based on the target's age and gender. The siege, which claimed over 11,000 lives, saw Sarajevo encircled by Bosnian Serb forces, subjected to relentless shelling and sniper fire. While similar claims have surfaced periodically since the war, Gavazzeni's dossier-submitted in February-marks the first formal Italian inquiry into the practice.
The Bosnian officer reportedly told investigators that local forces discovered the "safaris" in late 1993 and alerted Italy's Sismi military intelligence by early 1994. A response months later confirmed the trips had ceased, with participants allegedly flying from Trieste to the Sarajevo hills under the guise of humanitarian missions. "We've put a stop to it," the officer was told, and the excursions halted within weeks.
Documentary and historical ties to war tourism
Gavazzeni, known for investigations into terrorism and organized crime, revisited the allegations after viewing Sarajevo Safari (2022), a Slovenian documentary implicating participants from Italy, the US, and Russia. His 17-page file includes a report by Benjamina Karic, Sarajevo's former mayor. Meanwhile, a Bosnian probe into the matter appears stalled.
In a 1992 incident, Russian nationalist Eduard Limonov was filmed firing a heavy machine gun into Sarajevo alongside Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb leader later convicted of genocide. Though Limonov-an admirer of Karadzic-did not pay for the experience, his presence underscores the broader phenomenon of "war tourism" during the conflict.
Prosecutors build case as witnesses emerge
Italian counterterrorism prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis is examining the evidence under murder charges. Gavazzeni told La Repubblica that "many"-possibly over 100-Italians participated, paying sums equivalent to €100,000 today. Participants allegedly bribed their way through checkpoints, spent weekends shooting, and returned to normal life, embodying what Gavazzeni calls "the indifference of evil."
Authorities have reportedly identified potential witnesses to corroborate the claims. The investigation, first disclosed in July by Il Giornale, suggests some Italians posed as aid workers to access the war zone.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Ezio Gavazzeni, journalist and author of the complaint
