European Universities Urged to Review Ties with Bosnian Institution over Sovereignty Dispute

The Institute for Research of Genocide Canada has contacted eleven European universities and academic networks. The organization asked them to review, suspend, or terminate their cooperation with the University of East Sarajevo and its Medical Faculty in Foča. This appeal follows promotional material that presented Bosnia and Herzegovina as a foreign country.

The Medical Faculty in Foča recently published a graphic that listed foreign students. The graphic included twelve students from Bosnia and Herzegovina alongside foreign flags. Foča is a town located inside Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the school is a public institution in the country. The Institute argued that calling local students foreigners cannot be treated as a simple design mistake. It warned that such actions support political narratives that view Republika Srpska as a separate state rather than an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Institute noted the historical context of the region. International courts previously convicted wartime leaders of Republika Srpska of genocide and other crimes. The organization stated that European institutions must not grant legitimacy to political efforts that undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The letters were delivered to eight universities across Austria, Romania, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, and Hungary. The Institute also contacted three regional academic networks, including the European University Association. It urged these bodies to request official explanations from the faculty in Foča. If the institution does not correct the practice, the Institute wants all joint projects, mobility programs, and memberships suspended.

The Institute emphasized that its initiative does not target individual students or researchers. It stated that European universities should continue to support academic exchanges while demanding that partner institutions respect the constitutional order of their home country.