‘Sniper Safaris’: Italy investigates claims rich western men paid huge money to shoot civilians in Bosnia

Prosecutors in Milan have initiated an investigation into claims that wealthy men from western countries paid huge sums of money to be able to kill civilians in Bosnia. Journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni filed the complaint regarding ‘Sniper Safaris’ that has created shockwaves in Italy.

Ezio Gavazzeni describes a “manhunt” by “very wealthy people” who paid huge money “to be able to kill defenceless civilians” in Sarajevo from Serbian positions in the hills. Serbian forces had laid siege to Sarajevo after the fall of Yugoslavia. More than 11,000 Bosnians lost their lives as shelling and sniper fire became part and parcel of the siege.

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The Mila prosecutors have launched an investigation to identify the Italians who participated in this crime against humanity. They have invoked charges related to murder aggravated by cruelty and abject motives. Significantly, it’s not just Italians who were allegedly involved in the ‘Sniper Safaris’.

People from the USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, France and Britain also participated in the perversity. The sadists paid as much as €100,000 (~₹1 crore) for the spectacle. According to reports, there were different rate charts for men, women and children. The tourists could shoot old people for free.

‘Sniper Safaris’: What are the exact claims?

Ezio Gavazzeni, whose complaint forms the basis of the investigation, said that he first read about ‘Sniper Safaris’ in the Italian media in 1990s. He began investigating the matter much later after watching a 2022 documentary on the matter.

Slovenian director Miran Zupanič’s documentary ‘Sarajevo Safari’ features a former Serbian soldier and contractor saying that westerners would shoot at civilians from the hills around the city. Serbian war veterans, however, deny the claims vehemently.

Ezio Gavazzeni says, “Sarajevo Safari was the starting point. I began a correspondence with the director and from there expanded my investigation until I collected enough material to present to the Milan prosecutors.” He added, “There were Germans, French, English … people from all western countries who paid large sums of money to be taken there to shoot civilians.”

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The journalist maintains that there was no other motivation behind the crimes apart from the pursuit of pleasure. He says, “There were no political or religious motivations. They were rich people who went there for fun and personal satisfaction. We are talking about people who love guns who perhaps go to shooting ranges or on safari in Africa.”

He claims that Serbian soldiers would accompany the ‘Sniper Safaris’. “There was a traffic of war tourists who went to there to shoot people. I call it an indifference towards evil,” he said.