Holidays of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dan nezavisnosti)

In 1991, a “parade of sovereignties” took place and many republics that were part of the USSR gained economic independence A year after these events, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which at that time was part of Yugoslavia, held a general referendum on its territory on secession from Yugoslavia and recognition of full independence The referendum was held on February 29, 1992, and the results were announced on March 1: more than 63% of the population participated in the survey and the majority of them were “FOR” the adoption of sovereignty Since then, March 1 has become a real holiday for the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Independence Day The legality of the referendum was not recognized by the Bosnian Serbs, who sought to create their own republic This caused a civil military conflict that lasted until 1995 During the years of the Yugoslav crisis, more than one hundred thousand people died, and two million had to leave their native lands During the years of military conflict, local residents had to go through genocide, ethnic cleansing and shelling The military conflict continued until in 1995, NATO forces carried out a military operation to end the Bosnian War A temporary truce agreement was signed in Paris, after which peace negotiations continued in Dayton (USA) On December 21, 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina gained peace and independence, for which the people paid with their own blood The modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of territorial units with autonomous status - the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska The country's sovereignty is recognized at all political levels Despite all this, Republika Srpska continues to deny the legality of the referendum and believes that sovereignty was obtained illegally For these reasons, residents of Republika Srpska celebrate Independence Day on January 9th