At the Bihać City Gallery, on January 9, 2026, the exhibition “January 9 – The Path to Genocide” was opened, along with the promotion of the book “The Creation of Republika Srpska: From Regionalization to Strategic Objectives (1991–1992)”, published by the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law of the University of Sarajevo and the Institute of History of the University of Sarajevo.
The event was organized by the Government of the Una-Sana Canton, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Una-Sana Canton, the Una-Sana Canton Archives, the Federal Archives, and the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law of the University of Sarajevo. The authors of the exhibition and the book are Dr. Muamer Džananović, Director of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law of the University of Sarajevo; Dr. Jasmin Medić, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of History of the University of Sarajevo; and Dr. Hikmet Karčić, Research Associate at the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law of the University of Sarajevo.
In their presentations, the authors discussed the content of the publication, its methodology, and its importance for understanding the political, institutional, and strategic processes that preceded the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was particularly emphasized that the book, based on archival materials and judicial sources, analyzes the continuity of policies that led to the formation of the so-called Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, later Republika Srpska, and its direct connection to mass crimes and genocide.
In addition to the authors, the gathering was addressed by Hajrudin Ćuprija, Director of the Federal Archives, and Rejhana Saračević, Director of the Una-Sana Canton Archives, who emphasized the importance of archival institutions in preserving historical truth and social responsibility.
The exhibition of the Archives of the Federation includes 89 original documents, most of which were obtained from the archives of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the collections of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law. These are authentic archival materials that testify to the political, military, and demographic plans of the late 20th century and provide documented insight into the circumstances that led to the aggression and the crimes committed.
January 9, which is marked in the Bosnia and Herzegovina entity of Republika Srpska as “Republika Srpska Day,” continues to be observed despite multiple rulings of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring it unconstitutional. Amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted in July 2023 stipulate that officials and responsible persons who participate in organizing the celebration of an unconstitutional holiday may face criminal liability, including prison sentences and a ban on holding public office.
In this context, the exhibition and the book represent a scientifically grounded response to attempts at historical revisionism, denial, and relativization of crimes. Through an analysis of political, institutional, and strategic processes from the period 1991–1992, the circumstances of the self-proclamation of Republika Srpska are clarified, along with their connection to policies that led to mass crimes and genocide against Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The exhibition “January 9 – The Path to Genocide” is open to the public in Bihać until January 16, 2026.
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