2014 unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The 2014 unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a series of demonstrations and riots that began in the northern town of Tuzla on 4 February 2014 but quickly spread to multiple cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar, Jajce, and Brčko, among others, for social reasons and with the aim of overthrowing the government. The riots were the most violent scenes the country had seen since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995. The rioting largely took place in the entity of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the same level of unrest or activism did not occur in Republika Srpska.

2014 unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Part of the Impact of the Arab Spring
Protests in Zenica, 10 February 2014
DateRiots and unrest:
4–10 February 2014 (1 week)
Demonstrations:
February–April 2014 (ca. 2–3 months)
Location
Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Caused by
  • Mass unemployment
  • Mass poverty
  • Privatization of government services
  • Political corruption and nepotism
  • Police brutality
Goals
  • Resignation of the government
  • Political reforms
  • Improvement of living standards
Methods
StatusEnded
Parties
  • Citizens
  • UDAR (anti-government organization)
  • Coordinating organizations ("Plenums")
  • Trade unions
  • Anarchist activists
Lead figures

Predrag Kurteš
Fahrudin Radončić

Casualties
Death(s)0
InjuriesAs of 8 February:
200 (Tuzla)
121 (Sarajevo)
50 (Zenica)
Arrested38

Some news sources, such as BBC and The New York Times, used the name Bosnian Spring when describing the riots, a terminology taken from other events such the Arab Spring and the Prague Spring. The Swedish politician Carl Bildt also said that "in some places there has been talk about a Bosnian Spring".

Most of the riots calmed down by 8 February, although protesting continued throughout the days that followed.

By April 2014, the protests had faded away due to decreasing participation. A Balkan Insight article said they "ran out of steam."

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