The Chargé d'affaires of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adebayo Babajide, along with diplomats from EU member states, visited Bratunac on Tuesday where they met with Mayor Lazar Prodanovic to understand the local situation, including efforts to build trust among communities. According to their official X profile, they also paid respects to "innocent civilians killed in that area from 1992-1995."

This act has ignited intense reactions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) entity, particularly from Emir Suljagic, the director of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Center, who warned Babajide and others that “there would be hell to pay”.

“Chargé d'affaires of the EU Delegation to BiH Adebayo Babajide & diplomats from EU Member States in BiH traveled to Bratunac today & met with Mayor Prodanovic to learn about the situation in the municipality, including trust-building activities between communities. They also paid respect to the innocent civilians killed in the area from 1992-95. Empathy & respect for all innocent civilian victims, as well as acceptance of historical and judicially established facts are crucial for creating an environment conducive to reconciliation,” the Delegation posted on X.

The term “innocent civilian victims” used at the Military Cemetery, where members of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), involved in the Srebrenica genocide, are buried, sparked outrage.

“I am shocked, completely shocked to see EU Delegation to BiH official paying respects to members of Bosnian Serb Army at “Vojnicko groblje” – there is an actual flag of Bosnian Serb war veterans organization right next to the big cross – under the guise of “innocent civilians”. There are individuals buried here who had leading role in crimes against humanity in spring and summer of 1992 against Bosniak population. Such a shame. There'll be hell to pay for this, you have my word EU Delegation,” Suljagic wrote.

Call for consequences

Sead Turcalo, a university professor of geopolitics and international security, stated that today's event represents a “disturbing act of historical revisionism, as it disregards well-documented historical and judicial facts.”

“I am deeply troubled by today’s actions of the EU Delegation to BiH, who took part in a commemoration at the “Vojnicko groblje”. This event represents a disturbing act of historical revisionism, as it disregards well-documented historical and judicial facts. By paying respect to members of Bosnian Serb Army, the EU Delegation has effectively denied the reality that some of those interred at this site were involved in egregious crimes against humanity and violations of humanitarian law,” Turcalo wrote.

He then called for serious consequences for the Delegation members.

“This necessitates serious consequences, as the delegation's actions appear to posthumously condone the deeds of VRS members, now unjustly referred to as innocent civilians by EU officials. Such a move not only disrespects the victims and survivors of these crimes but also sets a dangerous precedent that undermines justice and the rule of law. The Delegation to BiH must recognize the gravity of this error and take immediate steps to reaffirm their commitment to historical truth and justice. Failure to do so risks diminishing the EU's credibility in fostering peace and reconciliation,” Turcalo wrote.

Semsudin Mehmedovic, a member of the BiH Parliament, assessed that for the European Union, “Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic’s executioners of genocide and war crimes are innocent Serb victims.”

“The EU not only laid wreaths to pay respects at the military cemetery of the Army of Republika Srpska in Bratunac but also honoured the army of Karadzic and Mladic, which committed war crimes and genocide and brutally murdered civilians in Bratunac and Srebrenica. This action by the EU undermines the ICTY and its judgments and further encourages and emboldens genocide and war crime deniers to persist in their plans,” Mehmedovic said, demanding an apology from the Union and the EU Delegation in BiH to the victims of war crimes and genocide. He also called on the BiH Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send protest notes to the EU leadership and the EU Foreign Minister.

Shame on you, Europe

The Institute for Research of Genocide from Canada also reacted strongly, stating that the EU Delegation official paid respects to members of the Bosnian Serb Army, which was convicted of genocide and who had a leading role in crimes against humanity in the spring and summer of 1992, against the Bosniak population.

“Shame on you, Europe. You betrayed Srebrenica and allowed the genocide in Srebrenica, the biggest crime after the Holocaust in Europe. Today, you betrayed truth, justice, the culture of remembrance, and memory. Today, you violated the judgments of international courts on the genocide in Srebrenica, the European Parliament's resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, and the UN General Assembly's resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica,” the Institute stated, demanding an apology from the EU and accountability for this act, which deeply hurt the genocide victims.

The N1 editorial sought a comment from the EU Delegation in BiH regarding the visit to the cemetery in Bratunac, but no response was received by the time of publication of this article.