Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina (01/03)

Independence Day (Dan nezavisnosti) of Bosnia and Herzegovina is celebrated annually on March 1. Because on this day (more precisely, February 29) in 1992, a referendum was held in Bosnia and Herzegovina in which the citizens of the republic voted for its independence and sovereignty and separation from the former Yugoslavia. The referendum was attended by 63% of voters in 107 of the 109 communities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Voting did not take place in Titov Drvar and Bosanski Grahov.

After the referendum, which was opposed by the Bosnian Serbs, — mainly supporters of the Serbian Democratic Party, — armed clashes began in Bosnia, which in the West and the BiH Federation within BiH are considered as aggression by the former Yugoslav People's Army and Serbian militia units. The Civil War ended in 1995 with the signing of the Dayton Accords.

Today's holiday — Independence Day — is one of the stumbling blocks between the constituent parts of BiH — Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, which does not allow the adoption of a law on holidays at the national level.

It is celebrated only in the Federation, where, according to tradition, in many cities and villages mass celebrations and festive events take place on this day, while the Republika Srpska opposes such wording, having a completely different view of the events of 1992 than the Federation of BiH.

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