Disturbing allegations have surfaced about wealthy tourists from countries including Britain, Italy, Germany, Russia, and the US, who reportedly paid up to £88,000 to partake in so-called 'Sarajevo safaris.' These individuals allegedly used Bosnian Serb sniper positions during the deadly siege of Sarajevo to target civilians, with higher fees for shooting pregnant women or children.
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Eyewitness Aleksandar Licanin, a former volunteer from a Bosnian Serb tank unit, described seeing these affluent visitors indulge in lavish feasts and drinks after their kills. He labeled the snipers "pure sadists," expressing disbelief at their actions.
The siege of Sarajevo, spanning from April 1992 to February 1996, remains the longest blockade of a capital city in modern warfare, with over 10,000 people killed during the 1,425-day conflict. Licanin's testimony aligns with ongoing investigations by Italian authorities into the involvement of Italian hunters in these alleged atrocities.
Joining the war in 1993, Licanin aligned with Bosnian Serb forces amid rising ethnic tensions. He served alongside a Serb militia led by Slavko Aleksic, whom he described as allowing snipers to choose their targets indiscriminately, contributing to the chaos.
Investigative journalist Domagoj Margetic reported that these tourists secured prime sniper locations, with some paying extra to specifically target vulnerable civilians. Multiple sources confirm women were among these alleged tourists, including a Romanian woman accused of numerous killings.
Zlatko Miletic, Sarajevo's former police chief, who led an anti-sniper team, corroborated international involvement, recalling difficulty in combating well-entrenched foreign snipers. Now a Bosnian MP, Miletic emphasizes the formidable challenge these snipers posed during the siege.
These harrowing accounts highlight the dark reality of the Sarajevo siege, where war intersected with so-called atrocity tourism, leaving a lasting impact on the city's residents. The revelations paint a grim picture of the siege's brutality and the exploitation of conflict for sport by affluent foreigners.
Key Takeaways
Tourists allegedly participated in 'human safaris' during Sarajevo siege.
High fees charged for targeting vulnerable civilians support damning claims.
Eyewitness accounts and investigations reveal extensive international involvement.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 13 Feb 2026
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