Italy Investigates Allegations of “Sniper Safaris” in Bosnia

The public prosecutor’s office in Milan has initiated an investigation into serious allegations involving Italian citizens who purportedly traveled to Bosnia during the early 1990s to participate in what has been termed “sniper safaris.” Reports indicate that individuals paid substantial amounts of money to shoot at civilians attempting to cross the main boulevard in Sarajevo, risking their lives in a war-torn city.

This investigation was sparked by a complaint from journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, who described a disturbing scenario where wealthy individuals with a fascination for firearms allegedly engaged in a “manhunt” against defenseless civilians from Serb positions in the surrounding hills. Eyewitness accounts suggest that different rates were charged depending on the target, be it men, women, or children. The brutal siege of Sarajevo, which lasted four years, resulted in over 11,000 deaths.

Yugoslavia was engulfed in conflict during this period, and Sarajevo found itself under constant siege by Serb forces, facing relentless shelling and sniper fire. While similar allegations regarding “human hunters” from abroad have surfaced previously, the evidence compiled by Gavazzeni, including testimonies from a Bosnian military intelligence officer, is currently being scrutinized by Alessandro Gobbis, Italy’s counter-terrorism prosecutor. The charge being considered is murder.

The Bosnian officer stated that his colleagues became aware of these so-called safaris in late 1993 and subsequently relayed the information to Italy’s military intelligence agency, known as Sismi, in early 1994. A response from Sismi followed a few months later, confirming that they had learned about the safari tourists who flew from the northern Italian border city of Trieste to the hills above Sarajevo. The Bosnian officer claimed he was told, “We’ve put a stop to it and there won’t be any more safaris.” Indeed, the trips reportedly ceased within two to three months.

Gavazzeni, who typically focuses on terrorism and mafia-related topics, first encountered reports of these sniper tours approximately three decades ago in an article by the Corriere della Sera. The claims remained largely unsubstantiated until he revisited the issue following the release of the 2022 documentary film “Sarajevo Safari,” directed by Miran Zupanic. The documentary suggested that individuals involved in these killings came not only from Italy but also from countries such as the United States and Russia.

In February 2023, Gavazzeni submitted a comprehensive 17-page report to prosecutors, which included information from former Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic. His findings indicate that participation in these sniper safaris was widespread, involving “at least a hundred” individuals, with Italians reportedly paying as much as €100,000 (approximately £88,000) for the experience.

Historical context adds further gravity to the issue. In 1992, Eduard Limonov, a late Russian nationalist writer and politician, was filmed firing at Sarajevo from a heavy machine gun while visiting Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who was later convicted of genocide by an international tribunal. Unlike those implicated in the alleged safaris, Limonov did not pay for his visit; he was there as an admirer of Karadzic, expressing a desire for Russia to emulate the actions of the Serb leader.

The Milan investigation was first reported in July 2023 when Il Giornale revealed that Italian tourists would arrive in Bosnia by minivan, providing substantial bribes to pass through checkpoints while pretending to be on humanitarian missions. After a weekend of shooting in the conflict zone, they would return to their normal lives in Italy. Gavazzeni condemned their actions as emblematic of the “indifference of evil.”

As the investigation unfolds, prosecutors and police are reportedly assembling a list of potential witnesses to help clarify the extent of participation in these alleged activities. The international implications of this inquiry highlight the need for accountability and justice regarding actions taken during one of Europe’s most brutal conflicts.