Serbian President Vučić Secures German Injunction Against Der Spiegel Over Sarajevo Safari Allegations

A Hamburg regional court granted Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić a preliminary injunction that bars Der Spiegel from publishing certain claims linking him to a purported "Sarajevo Safari" during the Bosnian war. The ruling prohibits the magazine from repeating allegations that Vučić served as a volunteer sniper and participated in "human hunting" of Sarajevo civilians, and imposes a fine of up to €250,000 for any breach.

At the same time, prosecutors in Italy and Austria have opened investigations into alleged "sniper tourism" in which wealthy Europeans are accused of paying large sums to shoot civilians in Sarajevo between 1992 and 1994. The Italian inquiry targets at least five suspects, while Austrian authorities are examining a 60‑year‑old Viennese man and possibly others. Former Austrian justice minister Alma Zadic called the alleged crimes "unthinkable cruelty" and urged thorough prosecution. The cases may expand to other countries such as Switzerland.

Both the court decision and the criminal probes revolve around the same contested narrative of foreign involvement in wartime atrocities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.