Srebrenica: The Srebrenica Memorial Center has documented 149 cases of genocide denial in Bosnia and Herzegovina in its last 12-month monitoring period, up more than 50% from the 99 cases seen in the previous period, according to its annual Genocide Denial Report presented on Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the report said genocide denial remains widespread despite amendments to Bosnia and Herzegovina's Criminal Code adopted in 2021 criminalizing genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals. It warned that denial continues through political rhetoric, media reporting, public institutions, and social media, while the lack of a consistent judicial response has contributed to a climate of impunity.
The report outlines that 94 cases from May 2025 to this May were classified as direct denial of the 1995 genocide in the besieged city of Srebrenica, 23 involved relativization or justification of the crime, 21 consisted of public support for convicted war criminals without explicitly mentioning genocide, nine acknowledged the crimes while rejecting their legal classification as genocide, and two were categorized as triumphalism, or celebration of the genocide.
The authors also warned that social media has become an increasingly important platform for spreading denial narratives, with many posts being deleted before investigators can identify their authors.
Emir Suljagic, director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, emphasized that the institution has systematically monitored genocide denial for six years to create a permanent archive documenting how political and public figures address the Srebrenica genocide. He stated that genocide denial is aimed at shaping the future rather than revisiting the past and alleged a direct link between lobbying efforts by Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska, and international campaigns denying the genocide.
Monitoring team coordinator Edin Ikanovic noted the report reflects a worrying upward trend, from 99 in the previous monitoring period to 149 in the one just completed. He added that public support for convicted war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic had risen. Dodik again topped the list of individuals most frequently denying the genocide, while Bosnia's Serb news agency SRNA and public broadcaster RTRS were identified as key platforms for spreading denial narratives.
Tarik Mocevic, the report's editor, explained that the increase in recorded cases shows that criminalizing genocide denial has not produced the expected deterrent effect. He highlighted what the report describes as an organized campaign of dehumanization against ethnic Bosniaks.
Political analyst Jasmin Mujanovic, one of the report's authors, presented findings on lobbying activities linked to Republika Srpska officials in the United States. He said a coordinated lobbying campaign seeks international support for Republika Srpska's political objectives while portraying Bosniaks and Muslims as security threats.
The report concludes that the Srebrenica Memorial Center will continue documenting genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals to build a permanent archive for researchers, judicial institutions, and the public. More than 6,780 victims have been buried at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, and new victims continue to be identified through DNA analysis.
Source: Anadolu Agency