What was Vučić's role in the war?

A German journalist has raised concerns over the role of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić during the Bosnian War, revealing previously unexamined aspects of his early career. The article published by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlights how Vučić, as a young volunteer in Sarajevo during the conflict, was allegedly involved in military operations that targeted civilians. The piece draws on historical accounts, testimonies before the Hague Tribunal, and statements from former officials to build its case. The article begins with a detailed account of the Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo, which became a strategic location during the city's siege. According to testimony presented before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the area served as a key launching point for artillery fire against the city, including attacks on the city hospital. British General Michael Rose, who commanded UN peacekeeping forces in Sarajevo, testified that the Jewish cemetery was used as a firing position by Serb forces. This information forms the foundation of the journalist’s inquiry into Vučić’s potential involvement in these activities. Michael Martens, a long-time correspondent for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung covering the Balkans, reports that Vučić, while still a young man, volunteered for service in Sarajevo in the mid-1990s. He described himself as having been stationed near the Jewish cemetery, claiming he fought to protect Serbian interests. These statements were made in interviews conducted in the late 1990s and later published in print media that have since ceased publication and are not available online. However, Martens notes that physical copies of these articles can still be found in the paper archives of the National Library of Serbia in Belgrade. Despite these claims, the journalist emphasizes that there is no clear evidence detailing exactly what Vučić did during his time at the cemetery. The article questions whether he participated in direct attacks on civilians or engaged in other war crimes. It also raises doubts about recent allegations suggesting that Vučić led foreign mercenaries, known as "weekend snipers", to target civilians in Sarajevo, particularly women and children. Martens states that such claims lack credible documentation and are based on speculative interpretations rather than verified records. The journalist further points out that Vučić continued to publicly support the policies he reportedly followed during the war. In a special edition of the magazine Velika Srbija, published in September 1997, Vučić, then serving as secretary-general of the Serbian Radical Party, spoke about his experience as a volunteer in Sarajevo. He claimed that his actions helped resolve a dilemma faced by many young people at the time. In the same interview, Vučić stated that he spent eight months in areas under the control of Bosnian Serbs, two of which were on the battlefield. Martens concludes that assessing Vučić’s role during the war does not require sensationalist narratives. Instead, it is sufficient to recognize that his presence in combat zones aligned with a political strategy that has been described as criminal. The journalist stresses that the focus should remain on documented facts rather than unsubstantiated accusations. The article ends with a reference to the ongoing efforts to uncover the truth about Vučić’s past, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.