intro

00 10

VO

The scars of Bosnia’s civil war have never fully healed. But for years this divided country has kept a fragile peace- now with Ukraine on fire and Europe on high alert for Russian meddling elsewhere – Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is threatening to secede raising the prospect of conflict once more – we have been to investigate.

01 02

VO

While Ukraine endures the full onslaught of a Russian invasion, five hundred miles south, another European country teeters on the verge of conflict – the Balkan Republic of Bosnia

01 25

VO

Hardline Serb nationalist, Milorad Dodik, leader of the country’s Republika Srpska region, is threatening to secede – a move which would spark internal conflict and could once again engulf the western Balkans in bloodshed

Presidency member Željko Komšić

01 44

Željko Komšić SYNC

I don’t believe that Dodik is a mere opportunist, but a man with a plan, a very dangerous plan

01 48

VO

And even as the spectre of war hangs over the Balkan Republic, those guilty of dreadful crimes are now being rehabilitated

Nihad Kreševljaković, historian

01 57

Nihad Kreševljaković SYNC

It’s not that they deny, they celebrate genocide, they celebrate war criminals

02 04

VO

Dodik’s administration has rehearsed war

games outside the capital, Sarajevo, while elsewhere Russian-backed paramilitaries have sprung up

Hikmet Karčić, genocide expert Sarajevo University

02 14

Hikmet Karčić, SYNC

The worst-case scenario would be to have an all-out war in Bosnia.

Fade

02 23

VO

26 years ago, the Bosnian War finally came to an end with the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. The conflict between Bosnia’s 3 ethnic and religious groups, the Orthodox Serbs, the Muslim Bosniaks and the Catholic Croats, was Europe’s bloodiest since the second world war, leaving the country in deep trauma.

02 50

Nihad Kreševljaković SYNC

There is no any doubt that experience of the siege and the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina affected all of us who lived here.

02 58

VO

The Dayton Accords had to somehow recognise the divergent aspirations of the 3 ethnic groups, splitting the country into 2 semi-autonomous regions: the Bosniak and Croat dominated Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the mostly Serb entity of Republica Srbska.

VO

A tripartite presidency was established and continues today, with a member from each of the 3 ethnic groups. UN peace keeping troops, mostly from Europe, were tasked to oversee the implementation of Dayton, of which a small contingent remains known now as EUFOR.

For several months now, this precarious peace accord has been threatening to unravel

Johann Sattler EU ambassador to Bosnia

03 47

Johann Sattler SYNC

We need to be very vigilant.. And that’s why we also decided to beef up the international troops here. We’ve decided to double the size of U4 to about 12 hundred soldiers which will be coming in in the next days.

04 01

VO

In October 2021,  Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb member of the tripartite presidency, announced that Republika Srpska would withdraw from the federal judiciary and tax regime, effectively paralysing the Bosnian government. He has long called for succession

04 20

UPSOF

Dodik says: The crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina will disappear only when Bosnia-Herzegovina disappears

Presidency member, Šefik Džaferović

 04 27

Šefik Džaferović SYNC

With his insane actions, Dodik can only jeopardise the peace…                and destabilise the situation in every possible way, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Western Balkans and in Europe

We have this in writing?

04 42

VO

But Dodik, who declined to be interviewed for this film,  has his allies, and is a regular guest of the Serbian president Alexander Vucic

Nemanja Starović, Serbian secretary of state for Foreign Affairs

04 52

Glenn: What do you think of Milorad Dodik? He’s a very controversial figure?.

Nemanja Starović, SYNC

Well, I would like to rephrase that saying that we are aware that there is a deep political crisis with many factors involved. And sometimes it seems like a kind of oversimplification to point a finger to solely one person being that Milorad Dodik

05 12

VO

But closer to home, alarm bells rang when Dodik declared his intention to remove Bosnian Serb troops from the Bosnian army in order to create a separate Serb force.

The move was strongly backed by Russia

Igor Kalabukhov, Russian  Ambassador to Bosnia

05 28

Igor Kalabukhov, SYNC

In the mid-90s where we had three warring armies pitted against each other. So… his understanding is that …legally Republica Srpsca has a right to have its own army.

PX the war/the siege and the recent Serb manoeuvres

05 44

VO

The Bosnian Serb army of the 1990s is the only armed force in recent history of which almost the entire leadership has been convicted of crimes against humanity. These crimes included the 3-year siege of Sarajevo when Bosnian Serb forces shelled the city from Mount Jahorina resulting 14,000 civilian deaths. So in October 2021 when Bosnian Serb police carried out military style drills on the same mountainside, the residents of Sarajevo were horrified

Hikmet Karčić, genocide expert Sarajevo University

06 27

Hikmet Karčić SYNC,

The Bosnian Serbs currently have a very militarized police, very militarized reserve forces, which means that they can very quickly mobilize reserve police officers, hand them Kalashnikovs and have a proper army in a few days.

Better

06 40

VO

Many in the Bosnian capital see Russia’s hand in these events.

Presidency member Željko Komšić

06 45

Željko Komšić SYNC

The real agenda is expansion of the Russian influence here in Bosnia and Herzegovina

06 48

VO

It’s true that over the years Milorad Dodik, has had numerous well publicised meetings with Vladimir Putin. But of equal concern in Sarajevo is his association with other more shadowy figures connected to the Kremlin. The most important of these is Konstantin Malofeev, dubbed Putin’s billionaire.

Veldin Kadić, security expert Sarajevo University

07 10

Veldin Kadić SYNC

Konstantin Malofeev is one of those people who is always ready to defend Orthodox as a religion and its Orthodox brothers from eastern Ukrainia to western Balkan by creating   frozen conflict justifying it by the need to protect its Orthodox brothers.

07 32

VO

Malofeev is the owner of Tzargrad TV which pumps out a daily diet of nationalist propaganda across Russia, mixing religion with politics. When we met him in 2018, this is what Malifeev had to say about Vladimir Putin

Archive P&P

07 48

Konstantin Malofeev SYNC

President Putin is our leader given to us by god.  , a leader who can make so many steps for Russia to be back historical way of how Russia developed before revolution.

08 06

VO

Malofeev had previously financed the pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Indeed, in 2014 Malofeev’s former employees became the defence minister and prime minister of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic. When we asked about his role in the conflict, he declined to discuss it.

08 26

Konstantin Malofeev SYNC

I told this so many times. It was just humanitarian aid that I did then, please I just don’t want to go there.

08 36

VO

Nonetheless as a consequence of his activity in Donbas the billionaire was placed on an EU and US Blacklist. Later that year Malofeev turned his attention to Bosnia

Johann Sattler EU ambassador to Bosnia

08 48

Johann Sattler SYNC

There’s a longstanding support coming from Moscow… for… for Mr. Dodik.

08 54

VO

Malofeev  seen here with Dodik, appeared in Respublika srpska in 2014 along with 150 Cossack veterans from Donbass, Dodik was running for president, and the arrival of the separatist fighters caused considerable alarm amongst Dodik’s opponents

Fast forward to 2018, and Malofeev appears on the scene again, offering 200 million dollars by way of a bonds purchase and unspecified logistical support to Dodik who was once again contesting the presidency. When Malofeev’s plane landed in Bosnia ahead of the vote the authorities prevented him from entering the country.

Veldin Kadić, security expert Sarajevo University

09 35

Veldin Kadić SYNC

The decision by Bosnian intelligence to ban him entry was taking affect.

And  Malofeev returned to Belgrade and from Belgrade to Moscow.

09 47

VO

But it isn’t only Russian billionaires whom Dodik counts among his friends. 2-time Palm d’Or winner, Emir Kusturica is also an admirer. the film director was given land seized from bosniaks to build his Andricgrad ‘townlet’ in the heart of the ancient city of Visegrad.

Nihad Kreševljaković, historian

10 10

Nihad Kreševljaković SYNC

It’s really bad taste. But bad taste is less problem than the fact that he was doing that on the territory where the people were burnt alive, where all those people who lived there… don’t live anymore. So it’s something which I really as the human being… it’s hard to understand how it is possible…

10 28

VO

The complex, comprising 50 stone buildings, the centerpiece of which is an immense orthodox church, has been dubbed a Bosnian Serb theme park

A mosaic depicts Dodik, Kusturica and other notable Serbs frolicking in a rural idyll. But Perhaps more than anything else, say critics, Andricgrad represents Republika Srpska’s denial of the past – and that the sheer scale of atrocities committed against the Bosniaks in Visegrad is simply impossible to comprehend

Bakira Hasečić, survivor Višegrad

11 03

Bakira Hasečić SYNC

They kill, they slaughter, they rape… they rape a women, and then they set her on fire in her house…

11 20

VO

Bakira was raped 3 times when the war came to Visegrad, she now hunts for war-criminals.

Before the war 65% of the town’s residents were Bosniaks. But within a few months of the start of the conflict only Serbs remained.

The search continues for the bodies of the 3,000 bosniaks murdered by Serbian Police and paramilitaries in Visegrad, which included some 600 women and 119 children.

Their bodies were thrown into the river Drina from the 16th century Mehmed Pasa Sokolovi Bridge, a world heritage site which now forms a backdrop to Kusturica’s folly

Bakira Hasečić, survivor Višegrad

12 12

Bakira Hasečić SYNC

Drina was foaming in blood… In the nigh time, you could only hear screams, but in the day you could see what was happening… at night, you could only hear screams, and the splash of water when a body hit it… Lifeless bodies of Bosniaks were floating… as logs. I often have dreams about this.

Fuad Hadzic, Former resident Viisegrad

12 37

Fuad Hadzic SYNC

As far as I know, at this moment only one Bosniak is living in the centre of Višegrad

12 44

VO

Fuad Hadzic tells us it was his land on which the director built his ‘townlet’, He says he’s  been trying ever since to get his property back through the courts.

12 56

Fuad Hadzic SYNC

They wanted to throw us out of Andrićgrad, Kusturica asked: “What seems to be the problem, this is beautiful, wonderfully built?” I agree, it is beautiful, but you should have built it on your own land, not on someone else’s.

13 16

VO

It’s not surprising memories are bitter here. The town of Visegrad holds other darker secrets. This is the Vilina Vlas Hotel, where during the first weeks of the war more than 200 Bosniak women were raped

Int Bakira Hasečić, survivor Višegrad

13 33

Int Bakira Hasečić, SYNC

Only 10 or 15 women survived Vilina Vlas hotel. Not to mention women who had been raped and then killed afterwards. In 1992, my Višegrad was at the gates of hell. If you understand what hell is, my Višegrad was at the gates of that hell.

14 03

VO

Of all the crimes committed during the Bosnia war – and the one which people here are especially fearful of seeing repeated -  the Srebrenica massacre stands out. This is the Srebrenica Memorial. A Museum tells the story.

Almasa Salihović, Srebrenica genocide survivor

14 19

Almasa Salihović SYNC

You can see the photos that show what was the daily life in the enclave of Srebrenica when it was clear and safe area. It also shows the scale of genocide. It shows the mass grave, the excavation of mass graves. So it shows everything that has to do with genocide in Srebrenica

14 38

VO

Almasa was only 8 at the time Srebrenica fell to the Bosnian Serb forces - she remembers desperately trying to escape from the town to the nearby UN headquarters, where Dutch peace keepers were supposed to offer protection to the town’s inhabitants.

Almasa Salihović, Srebrenica genocide survivor

14 57

 SYNC

what I remember is just running towards this place from Srebrenica… the screams, the terror and the fear in everybody’s eyes… I was little…still … so I could not run so fast. And you know… there was commotion. You could see a river of people just going in the same direction. So you just try not to lose each and one of your family members. And my mother … she said: “I cannot hold you. So take my clothes and don’t let go.

15 27

VO

However, having reached the UN base worse was to come. The commanding officer simply handed over the Bosniak refugees to Ratko Mladic the head of the Bosnian Serbs, who at once started separating the men from the women. More than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were systematically murdered, the women and some children were sent away on buses.

15 52

Almasa Salihović SYNC

We left this… this place on 13th of July afternoon. And on 11th of July was the last… last day when we saw my brother Abdulla alive.

Yes?

16 07

VO

In 2021 it became a crime in Bosnia, punishable by up to five years in prison, to deny that the Srebrenica massacre was a genocide. Milorad Dodik, sees things differently –

16 20

PX press conference

Dodik UPSOF:  "They suddenly decided to construct a myth. Every people needs a myth and Bosniaks did not have a myth so decided to construct one around Srebrenica. It is a fabricated myth; it does not exist.’

16 33

VO

Indeed, General Ratko Mladic, the military commander who oversaw the genocide, is still venerated across Republika Srpska – despite the fact he’s now serving life in prison for war crimes.

Igor Kalabukhov, Russian ambassador

16 47

Igor Kalabukhov SYNC

For one people a certain persona is a criminal, for other people he is defender of their own families. So we are dealing with a very difficult reality here.

Glenn: But can that really be true of Ratko Mladic?

Kalabukhov SYNC

No comments.

17 09

VO

This is January the ninth, Republika Srpska National Day. Although it is outlawed under Bosnian law, it was celebrated across Republika Srpska, and marked by a military style march passed in the de facto capital, Banja Luka, in front of Dodik, and Vinko Pandurevic, another convicted war criminal whom the UN war crimes tribunal sentenced to 13 years for his role in the Srebrenica genocide

Ambassador to where btw? Astons need to make clear NB

17 38

Johann Sattler EU Ambassador SYNC

We’ve come out clearly with how we saw the events on the 9th of January, the rhetoric that was used. The fact that it heightened attentions in the country… but also the fact that … you know… there were other visitors coming from other countries.

17 58

VO

These visitors included the Serbian prime minister and Serbian minister of interior, as well as the Russian ambassador

Int Igor Kalabukhov, Russian ambassador

18 05

Glenn:  What do you think of the celebrations in Banja Luka?

Igor Kalabukhov SYNC,

Well, it’s a… it’s a holiday of Republica Srpsca…

Glenn: Standing not far…from Mr. Dodik was a convicted war criminal. Do you think that was a good idea?

Igor Kalabukhov SYNC,

I wouldn’t know… I was present there and I was not selecting the guests for the ceremony.

Presidency member Željko Komšić

18 30

Željko Komšić SYNC

But this act, as well as some previous acts, indicate that the Russian Federation does not respect sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina 

18 37

VO

It is not only the Russian’s and Serbians who are supporting Dodik.  Hungary’s Viktor Orban and the Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa -seen here with Dodik and Serbian President Vucic, -  are believed to have been involved in devising a controversial European policy document, entitled, ‘Western Balkans – A Way Froward’ which began circulating in 2021. It advocated ‘joining a larger part of  Republika Srpska territory with Serbia.’; effectively splitting Bosnia in two.

Presidency member Šefik Džaferović

19 09

Presidency member Šefik Džaferović SYNC

It is a nonsense, a stupidity that has nothing to do with reality … this non-paper. It can only start a fire, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the region and in Europe

19 25

VO

Many Bosnians also see it as sinister that

, in the last few years a number of Russian affiliated paramilitary groups have sprung up in Republika Srpska - swearing allegiance not only to Putin but also to Dodik.

Hikmet Karčić, genocide expert Sarajevo University

19 40

Hikmet Karčić, SYNC

So there are few organizations which represent themselves as humanitarian organizations which have very strong links with Russia. They are military aged young men who have sort of military uniform

19 52         

VO

One such group is called Sveti Georgjje, whose leader is Srdjan Letic, a criminal with several past convictions including weapons trading. Letic says his group, which enjoys financial support from Russian Embassy, is a humanitarian organization.

20 12

VO

When we called on him, he was reluctant to talk

Translator says

Sirdjan says ‘ he’s not interested in talking in interviews’

He did say he’d have talked if we were Russian

20 25

VO

What is particularly alarming about Letic’s group is that they have based themselves in the village of Loncari, a mere 9 miles from Brcko, arguably the most strategically important point on the map of Bosnia.

Presidency member Šefik Džaferović

20 41

Šefik Džaferović SYNC

There are no coincidences … In my opinion, the choice of the place is not random either - Lončari, at the very entrance to Brčko

20 48

VO

Situated in the north of Bosnia

Brcko is the only link between Republika Srpska’s two halves, a corridor that was viciously fought over during the war. At the Dayton negotiations Brcko was deemed so tactically vital to both sides, that it was given a special autonomous status.

Hikmet Karčić, genocide expert Sarajevo University

21 08

Hikmet Karčić SYNC

Because Brčko is the only territory which is not part of either entities. In case of any potential clashes or violence in Bosnia, I am of opinion it will first start in Brčko. And I’m pretty sure that organizations such as these would be in use as some sort of force in the beginning in order to create violence and spread terror among the local non-Serb population in Brčko.

21 34

VO

The potential threat posed by Sveti Georgija and other Russian-backed groups has to be seen in a new light following Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Johann Sattler EU ambassador

21 43

Johann Sattler SYNC

We’ve seen not only an assault on a sovereign country. But we’ve seen also an assault on the rules-based order. We are going into uncharted territory. So there are risks

Presidency member Željko Komšić

21 57

Željko Komšić SYNC

Just as Russia does not want Ukraine to be in NATO or in the European Union, Russia does not want any country of the Western Balkans to join NATO or the European Union either.

22 11

VO

And as fighting intensified in Ukraine, Dusanka Majkic, an MP from Dodik’s governing party, tweeted this

“A reminder: Moscow said in March 2021 that it would react if Bosnia and Herzegovina take’s steps towards joining NATO. Don’t say later that you didn’t know,”

Adjusted just a bit for tautology

22 40

VO

But Bosnia needs no reminding of the danger it is in. It’s graveyards are filled with victims…it’s towns and villages depleted of inhabitants.

Sudbin Musić, Čarakovo Village

22 54

Sudbin Musić, SYNC

I lost my father, I lost my 45 family members here… my school friends, my teachers

23 06

VO

When the Serb army arrived at Čarakovo, Subdin was rounded up with the other men and boys and taken to a nearby river where they were told to swim. Once in the water they were to be shot

Sudbin Musić, Čarakovo Village

23 20

Sudbin Musić, SYNC

You are looking directly to the eyes of death. And you are just praying to be fast… you know… not to suffer. And then somebody started to scream “No, no!”…  And that soldier who ordered us to swim… he ordered us to get back. And it was bus-driver of my school bus and a good friend of my father. He decided to rescue me and my brother. And we are the only survivors in my neighbourhood

24 04

VO

Subdin was then taken to the concentration camp at Trnopolje and eventually freed weighing just 46 kilos

24 14

Sudbin Musić, SYNC

We … had nothing to eat.. You are thirsty. But you are not hungry.

(showing a photo) – That’s me…when I was liberated. I am giving an interview to a British TV

Sudbin Musić,

24 28

Sudbin Musić, SYNC

You know… we are politically devastated, you know. Let us talk about parliament of Republica Srpsca. You have 83 members of the parliament. And only 3 of them are Bosniaks. Milorad Dodik realized that he can do it. You know… Who is going to stop him