East Sarajevo experiences propaganda escalation via billboards and graffiti

East Sarajevo Alija Izetbegović Republika Srpska propaganda war Bosnia and Herzegovina

A series of provocative displays has triggered a propaganda conflict in East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the 23rd anniversary of Alija Izetbegović's death, large billboards appeared across the city accusing the former Bosnian Presidency member of war crimes. These displays included messages in both Cyrillic and English stating that his death did not wash away his bloody hands or erase his responsibility for crimes against the Serbian people.

In response, a mural of the Republika Srpska flag in East New Sarajevo was defaced with the word ‘genocidaši’ (genocidaires). Police have arrested a resident of Sarajevo, identified by the initials N. K., in connection with the vandalism. Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential crime of inciting national, racial, and religious hatred, disorder, and intolerance.

Political leaders have reacted strongly to both incidents. Milorad Dodik and Staša Košarac condemned the graffiti as an attempt at collective stigmatization of the Serbian people, while local officials in East Sarajevo welcomed the Izetbegović billboards. The identity of those responsible for the billboards remains unknown.

Entities

Alija Izetbegović · East Sarajevo · Ljubiša Ćosić · Milorad Dodik · Republika Srpska · Staša Košarac

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 9 SOURCES] A mural of the Republika Srpska flag was defaced with the word ‘genocidaši’. www.argumenti.rs · fenix-magazin.de · www.novilist.hr · www.banjaluka.com · sarajevskasehara.com · +4 more
[● 3 SOURCES] East Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić welcomed the installation of the Izetbegović billboards. www.24sata.hr · fenix-magazin.de · www.novilist.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The identity of the creators and financiers of the billboards remains unknown. www.24sata.hr · fenix-magazin.de · www.novilist.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The billboards were displayed on the 23rd anniversary of Alija Izetbegović's death. www.24sata.hr · fenix-magazin.de · www.novilist.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Staša Košarac called the graffiti an attempt at collective stigmatization of the Serbian people. www.argumenti.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] Billboards accusing Alija Izetbegović of war crimes were placed in East Sarajevo on Monday. www.24sata.hr · fenix-magazin.de · www.novilist.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] A man with initials N. K. from Sarajevo was arrested for the mural vandalism. www.banjaluka.com · sarajevskasehara.com · lat.sputnikportal.rs
[● 2 SOURCES] The vandalism is being investigated as an attempt to incite national, racial, and religious hatred. sarajevskasehara.com · lat.sputnikportal.rs