New Documentary Links Serbian State Security to Bosnia War Crimes

A new documentary film, "Sinovi službe smrti" (Sons of the Service of Death), will premiere on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the Novo Sarajevo Children's House. Avdo Huseinović authored the film, produced by "Pravda." A press conference on July 6, 2026, featured Huseinović, Nerin Dizdar, Federal Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees, and Benjamina Karić, Mayor of Novo Sarajevo.

The film focuses on the final verdict against Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović from The Hague. Using archives, testimonies, and court documents, it shows Serbia's role in the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This verdict legally linked Serbia's State Security Service to crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time.

Avdo Huseinović described the film as one of his most challenging projects, taking two years. He followed the twenty-year court process at the Hague Tribunal. Over 200 witnesses testified, and more than 11,000 pieces of evidence were presented. Huseinović stressed the verdict proves the planning and execution of crimes. He noted its importance during the Srebrenica genocide anniversary, confirming Serbia's criminal role, including executions in Godinjske Bare by the "Škorpioni" unit. He clarified that many units, often called paramilitary, were not independent but controlled by Serbia's State Security Service, including groups like Arkan's Serbian Volunteer Guard and the Scorpions.

The film covers all six locations where Stanišić and Simatović were convicted: Bijeljina, Zvornik, Doboj, Bosanski Šamac, Sanski Most, and Godinjske Bare. It reveals facts about attempts to hide evidence and eliminate witnesses, such as Risto Đogo, Željko Ražnatović Arkan, and Slobodan Medić Boca. The film relies solely on final court judgments, official documents, archives, and testimonies, avoiding assumptions.

Huseinović's two decades of research for his documentaries preserve the truth about the war and serve as an archive of collective memory. His work combats attempts to deny or relativize established facts. His films advocate against forgetting and falsifying history, representing victims' voices and serving as a document for future generations.

Minister Nerin Dizdar stated the film documents truth and aids the fight for justice. He affirmed Huseinović's work aims for facts and justice for victims. Dizdar said the film demonstrates Serbia's involvement in many crimes across Bosnia and Herzegovina, beyond Srebrenica. He stressed the film is based purely on documents and legal verdicts, advocating for its inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina's education system.

Mayor Benjamina Karić emphasized supporting authors who preserve truth. She stated it is vital for young people to save every fact, document, and testimony, calling truth preservation a duty. The premiere highlights the importance of institutional support for documenting war crimes, ensuring truth reaches many globally. Huseinović's films are a vital defense against revisionism, proving truth can be preserved through persistent evidence collection.