The recent statements by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who implied that the 1995 Srebrenica genocide was staged, are not only untrue and insulting, but should also be seen as a signal that Bosnia’s membership in the EU and NATO should be accelerated “before it’s too late”, professor of philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University, David Pettigrew, told the Fena news agency.

The professor, who has significantly contributed to the investigation of war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially regarding genocide, strongly condemned Zakharova’s statement, saying it represents an insult to the victims and a terrible form of genocide denial, as well as hate speech that trivialises the genocide, minimises the suffering of victims and makes them vulnerable to new crimes.

Such “cruel” and obvious denial is Russia’s attempt to show support to those who are currently among their only allies, namely Serbia and the Republika Srpska (RS) entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said, noting that Russia also supported Serbia and the RS when it vetoed the UN Resolution condemning the Srebrenica genocide in 2015.

He also commented on the controversial statements Russian Ambassador Igor Kalabukhov recently made, when he said that his country would have to react in case BiH makes progress on NATO membership.

Pettigrew said these statements imply that Russia may try to use the RS entity as another front of resistance against the EU and NATO.
He said Zakharova’s statement represents “ another signal that the European Union should accelerate Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership in the European Union and NATO before it is too late.”

Pettigrew stressed that the “illegal and inhumane” invasion of Ukraine must stop.

The United States and its allies are gathering evidence of war crimes for the possible prosecution of perpetrators, and the first indications are that war crimes were committed, including torture and killing of civilians across Ukraine, and now there is evidence of mass graves, he noted.

He said that the question remains whether these crimes will be considered genocide, but that there are indications of an intention to eliminate Ukrainians and their culture in the current Russian ideology and rhetoric, as part of Putin's goal of rebuilding the “Russian world.”