Protests end in Sarajevo as cantonal Prime Minister says they can’t call off EuroLeague match

Following their gathering, protesters moved to the Ciglane neighborhood, where Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk, Cantonal Minister Mladen Pandurevic, and other government representatives were holding a press conference on air quality. Uk and the delegation arrived under police escort but did not address the crowd, who greeted them with chants and banners and later escorted them away from the site in the same manner.

Uk left the press conference the same way he arrived, without addressing the public. However, he made brief remarks to reporters about the controversy.

“I was among the first politicians to condemn what is happening in Palestine,” Uk said. “The fact is that BC Bosna and Dubai have an agreement to play at least three games in Zetra, and all measures have been taken in accordance with legal procedures. The police have determined the level of security that must be ensured during the match.”

He added: “I’m surprised by the sudden outrage over this game, considering that three matches with Israeli teams have already been played in Bosnia and Herzegovina recently, two of them in Sarajevo. The Canton Government cannot prohibit the match.”

Earlier in the day, protesters had demanded that Uk address them directly, but he offered instead to meet a smaller delegation in his office which the crowd rejected, saying they were an informal group without official representatives.

Afterward, the demonstrators left the government building and marched toward Ciglane, where the press conference took place.

Protesters said they have not yet decided on their next steps ahead of Wednesday’s scheduled match in Zetra.