30 May 2020 | 07:56 PM UTC
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Thousands attend anti-government demonstration in Sarajevo May 30
Thousands attend anti-government protest in Sarajevo on May 30; further protests possible in the near term
Event
On Saturday, May 30, thousands of protesters marched in Sarajevo demonstrating against bad governance, nationalism, and corruption. The demonstration was organized by the Platform for Progress party and was joined by leaders of other opposition groups. Participants gathered in the Old Town area of the city before marching to the national parliament building. Despite the size, the protest was largely peaceful with no reports of violence or arrests.
Further demonstrations are possible in Sarajevo over the near term.
Context
The mass is an annual event usually held in May in the town of Bleiburg, Austria, to commemorate thousands of Bosnian and Croatian fascists allied with Nazi Germany in WWII but was canceled due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions. As such, the Bosnian and Croatian Catholic churches organized the movement under the auspices of the Croatian parliament
Advice
Individuals in Sarajevo are advised to monitor developments, avoid protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
