Numerous citizens, officials, diplomats gathered in front of the Presidency building Thursday to pay the last tribute to the Srebrenica genocide victims, who will be buried this weekend at the Potocari memorial.
A convoy carrying the mortal remains have traditionally passed through the Bosnian capital on the way to the eastern Bosnian town Potocari, making a brief stop for the last salute to the victims.
Sarajlije ispraćaju tabute ka Potočarima @N1infoSA pic.twitter.com/U70tQracDJ
— Semir Mustafić (@MustaficSemir) July 9, 2020
This year's commemoration is taking place under special circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. The mass burial will be attended only by close relatives and family members, while the official part of the commemoration will be set up virtually, with speakers conveying their messages via live video link or previously recorded videos.
The youngest victim to be laid to rest this year is Salko Ibisevic, who was 23 when he was killed. The oldest victim is Hasan Pezic, aged 70 at the time of death.
In a week of remembrance, a reminder that the search for loved ones continues.
U sedmici sjećanja, podsjetnik da se traganje za voljenim nastavlja. #Srebrenica25 #RememberingSrebrenica pic.twitter.com/DLd2kkTTni— Matt Field (@MattFieldUK) July 9, 2020
In April 1993, the UN had declared the besieged enclave of the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica a safe area under UN protection.
However, in July 1995, the Dutch battalion soldiers failed to prevent the town's capture by the Bosnian Serb forces and the massacre that followed.
More than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were killed in the UN-protected Srebrenica enclave in the days following July 11, 1995, and so far the remains of more than 6,600 have been found and buried.
To this day, 6,643 Srebrenica genocide victims were buried at the Potocari memorial and more than 1,000 are still missing.
The victims’ body remains were scattered and found at about 570 different locations.
