The upcoming Pride March in Sarajevo scheduled for September 8 is not an ordinary but a “top political event,” according to Bosnia Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic, who said that all those who might object the parade should think carefully what is it all about.

People of Bosnia and Herzegovina are tolerant and everyone in the country is free to live their lives they want, including the LGBTIQ community, he said speaking for Bosnian media.

“The thing is, we in Sarajevo are always in a situation where we have to prove and show our tolerance and transparency, that we're not like we are presented in the neighbourhood and some media, that we are not some terrorist and so on,” said Komsic.

He did not say if he would attend the march. “You'll see it when the time for that comes.”

In case if the event doesn't take place or if any violence occurs, Komsic stressed, “it will cost us.”

The Pride March is being organised in Bosnia for the first time and, as the organisers said, it is a protest against inequality and violation of human rights of the LGBTIQ persons. It is also a protest against all those exposed to violence, discrimination and those who are excluded from society.

Announcement of the first Bosnian Pride March earlier this year triggered a broad discussion on whether the event should take place or not.

The parade was met with strong support of liberal political parties including the ruling Nasa Stranka (Our Party, NS) and the opposition of the conservative Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA).

The organisers also received the strong support of foreign organisations and embassies in the country.