Balkans | Commemorating the first victims of the Siege of Sarajevo on the 31st anniversary of the siege

Ceremonies were held on the 31st anniversary of the siege, in memory of Sawada Dilberović and Olga Sušić, the first civilian victims of the Siege of Sarajevo, which began on 5 April 1992 and lasted for 1,425 days, which is recognized as the longest siege in modern history.

A ceremony was held on the bridge bearing their names for Dilbrović and Sucic, who were killed by Serbian snipers in the capital, Sarajevo, during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian state officials, relatives of the victims and the people of Sarajevo laid flowers at the memorial on the bridge and stood in silence.

Sarajevo Mayor Benjamin Karic said in a statement that Delbrović and Sucic died 31 years ago for the freedom of future generations in the country.

Karić emphasized that they commemorate Delbrović and Sucic who lost their lives at a young age with great sadness, “We believe they could be mothers and husbands alive today, and what a veil of grief the attackers covered our city, Sarajevo.” He said.

Karic indicated that he wanted to send a message to the younger generations that they should not forget their past and remember it with respect.

“April 5, 1992, the beginning of evil”

Senida Karović, president of the Association of Civilian War Victims, stated that 5 April 1992 was the “beginning of evil” and said: “We did not know what we would experience in the coming days. It was a time when the people of Sarajevo did not know what was going to happen. There was siege and destruction of lives.” The killing, wounding and massacre of many innocent civilians.” He said.

Sarajevo City Council President Dragan Stefanovic said that the bridge bearing the names of Dilberovic and Susic is a symbol of the eternal struggle of good against evil.

The blockade began on April 5, 1992 and lasted until February 29, 1996.

Dilberović, a medical student at the University of Sarajevo, and Sočić, a mother of two, who worked for the BH Association, were killed on the Vrbanja Bridge as a result of attacks by Serbian paramilitary units.

In their attack on 5 April, Serb forces directly targeted civilians and opened fire on Sarajevo, which was demonstrating against the war.

On the day that Dilberović and Sučić were killed, the Siege of Sarajevo, the longest in modern history, began, and 11,541 people, 1,601 of whom were children, lost their lives in the 1,425-day siege.

Sarajevo, which was attacked on April 5, 1992, was under siege until February 29, 1996.