The presidents of Serbia and Republika Srpska stood together today at Donja Gradina, the largest execution site of the Jasenovac concentration camp system, to mark the Day of Remembrance for victims of the Ustasha genocide during World War II. The solemn ceremony brought together government delegations, survivors, and representatives of Jewish and Roma communities to honor those who perished in what many historians consider one of the most brutal death camps of the war.
President Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska delivered a powerful address recounting the horrors of Jasenovac. He described in graphic detail the methods of execution employed by the Ustasha regime, including the drowning of children and mass killings with primitive tools. “They didn’t just kill here in the camp,” Dodik stated, “but throughout villages across the Independent State of Croatia. There isn’t a single Serbian community that wasn’t touched by this slaughter.” The Republika Srpska leader connected the historical tragedy to current political challenges, warning about what he called attempts to weaken Serbian unity through what he termed a “color revolution.”
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s speech focused on the unique brutality of Jasenovac, which operated until May 1945 without being liberated by Allied forces. “This was the only concentration camp that was never freed,” Vucic noted, questioning why partisan brigades never attempted to liberate it despite being nearby for months. The Serbian leader drew parallels between the wartime genocide and modern geopolitical pressures, asserting that Serbia’s current independence and economic progress have made it a target for those who would prefer a weaker Serbian state.
The commemoration began with wreath-laying ceremonies at the “Topole” mass grave site, where officials from both governments paid their respects. Among the dignitaries were Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, BiH Presidency member Zeljka Cvijanovic, and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Radovan Viskovic, along with multiple Serbian government ministers. Representatives from Jewish and Roma organizations joined survivors of the camp in the memorial service that followed.
Historical records presented at the ceremony indicated that the Jasenovac camp system claimed approximately 700,000 lives between 1941 and 1945, including 500,000 Serbs, 33,000 Jews, 40,000 Roma, and 127,000 anti-fascists of various backgrounds. Particularly haunting was the statistic that 20,000 children were among those murdered at the camp. The ceremony coincided with an official day of mourning in Republika Srpska, as leaders from both governments emphasized the importance of preserving memory and standing against contemporary forms of persecution.
The event took on additional political significance as both presidents framed the commemoration within current regional tensions. Their speeches repeatedly connected the wartime genocide to what they described as ongoing attempts to marginalize Serbian interests in the Balkans, with particular criticism directed at Western policies regarding Kosovo and internal Bosnian politics. The gathering served not only as a memorial but as a statement of Serbian unity and resilience in the face of what both leaders characterized as historical and modern challenges to Serbian identity and sovereignty.
