Bosniaks from the eastern Bosnian towns of Vlasenica and Potocari experienced unpleasant events on Saturday evening, when they were insulted on ethnic basis and witnessed glorification of genocide. It all happened on the evening when the Orthodox Christians in Bosnia and Herzegovina were marking the Christmas Eve.

A video showing several vehicles driving through the part of Vlasenica inhabited mostly by Bosniaks appeared on social networks, with shouts calling the Bosniaks derogatory names

The video was also published by Bosniak politician Ramiz Salkic, an MP in the parliament of the Bosnia's Serb-majority part where the two towns are located.

“What Bosniaks in Vlasenica are witnessing is provocation by their neighbours, which is certainly not in the spirit of the religion they are supposedly promoting,” Salkic said, adding that this event could not be taken any different than as a provocation and harassments of neighbours.

According to him, the police of Republika Srpska entity, knew about the parades and their goals but “they deliberately do not want to prevent them from passing through Bosniak settlements.”

“These provocateurs are clearly encouraged and supported by the official policy in this entity with daily statements directed against Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Salkic.

Zvornik Police Administration, which covers the area, said that the Vlasenica Police Station received a call from K.B. from Vlasenica, reporting an insult on ethnic basis said by G.E. from Vlasenica.

“Acting on the said report, the police officers confirmed the same allegations, and are taking all further measures and actions under the supervision of the duty prosecutor of the District Public Prosecutor's Office in East Sarajevo, who ordered that a report on the measures and actions taken are submitted after the completion of the case. The Zvornik Police Administration condemns all types of this and similar behaviour and calls on citizens to refrain from doing it,” the police said.

Similar incidents were also recorded in Potocari. One of the locals posted a video on social network, showing several vehicles passing by and shots fired allegedly towards the house of a Bosniak returnee. The video description said that the problem was in the fact that the shots came from a car that was under police escort.

Zvornik Police Administration did not respond to N1's inquiry regarding this incident.