Republika Srpska

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

On 9 January 1992, the Bosnian Serb assembly adopted a declaration on the Proclamation of the Republic of the Serb people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 28 February 1992, the constitution of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted, declaring the state's territory included Serb autonomous regions, municipalities, and other Serbian ethnic entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it was declared to be a part of the federal Yugoslav state. From 29 February to 2 March 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence that was boycotted by Bosnian Serbs, in which 99.7% voted in favor. On 6 April 1992, the European Union formally recognized the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence on 7 April 1992. On 12 August 1992, the reference to Bosnia and Herzegovina was dropped from the name, and it became simply Republika Srpska. During the breakup of Yugoslavia, Srpska's President Radovan Karadžić declared that he did not want Srpska to be in a federation alongside Serbia in Yugoslavia, but that Srpska should be directly incorporated into Serbia.

Reader's Guide

On 12 May 1992, at a session of the Bosnian Serb assembly, Radovan Karadžić announced six 'strategic objectives' of the Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina: establish state borders separating the Serb people from the other two ethnic communities; set up a corridor between Semberija and Krajina; establish a corridor in the Drina river valley; establish a border on the Una and Neretva rivers; divide the city of Sarajevo into Serb and Bosniak parts; and ensure access to the sea for Republika Srpska. At the same session, the Bosnian Serb assembly voted to create the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) and appointed Ratko Mladić as commander of the VRS Main Staff. By 1993 Republika Srpska controlled about 70% of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the final Dayton Agreement in 1995 appropriating to Republika Srpska control over 49% of the territory. In 1993 and 1994, the authorities of Republika Srpska ventured to create the United Serb Republic.

Did You Know?

• For the first six months of its existence, it was known as the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• The borders of the post-1995 RS are based on the front lines and situation on the ground at the time of the signing of the Dayton Agreement on 14 December 1995.
• On 12 August 1992, the reference to Bosnia and Herzegovina was dropped from the name, and it became simply Republika Srpska.
• By 1993 Republika Srpska controlled about 70% of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• The VRS and political leadership have been accused of war crimes including the Srebrenica Genocide in 1995, where nearly 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were systematically executed.