Sarajevo’s Romeo and Juliet by Safet Zec, 1943

- "I dedicate the cycle "Embraces" to the young Sarajevans Admira and Boško, to their love and to their sad, premature, and incomprehensible departure at the time of the horrible tragedy that hit their city, which abruptly interrupted life and dreams for them and thousands of their fellow citizens.

The shots by the snipers did not allow them to continue their love story, in some other happier place.

They will "forever" remain embraced on the Vrbanja Bridge, on the Miljacka River, as a symbol and a reminder of what “darkness” can subdue the human mind" - Safet Zec.

32 years ago, Sarajevo’s Romeo and Juliet died, an Orthodox Boško Brkić and a Muslim Admira Ismić.

Their death serves as an example of nonsense of war destruction ever since in the region.

This 25-year-old couple tried to escape from evil and madness that struck their country on 18 May 1993, and they were murdered on the Vrbanja bridge on the Miljacka river.

Young and in love, of different religions, they were preparing for the wedding and escape from the unbearable reality.

On that fatal May day in the afternoon hours, with the hope they would escape Sarajevo, they were killed by a sniper and they were left to lie in each other’s arms for days on Sarajevo asphalt, because no one dared to move them from the line of demarcation.

Their bodies were lying on the street for seven days.

No one ever answered for their death, culprits were never found.

Boško and Admira’s love was supported and accepted by their families, and friends said that no one could imagine them separated, that they always hung out together and that they were example to everybody else how love should look like.

Before the war has started, Boško’s father died, and his mother and brother went to Serbia.

He had no one in Sarajevo, besides his high school love Admira.

He stayed in Sarajevo because of her while grenades were falling on the city, and people died on every step.

Even though they lived kilometres apart, they saw each other every day.

A year before the war started in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they decided to leave the city and search for a better life…

They arranged the escaping from the surrounded Sarajevo with a mutual friend and they went for freedom on 18 May 1993.

Believing that there is an active ceasefire, they didn't wait for the night but they went on as soon as 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

They only got to the Vrbanja bridge where the first bullet from a sniper hit Boško, and then Admira.

Fatally wounded, she crawled to the dead Boško, hugged him and passed away.

Allegories of Fate by Safet Zec, 1943 / ♪ Johann Sebastian Bach 𝄞

- "Dedico il ciclo "Abbracci" ai giovani sarajevesi Admira e Boško, al loro amore ed alla loro triste, prematura ed incomprensibile scomparsa al momento dell'orribile tragedia che ha colpito la loro città, interrompendo bruscamente la vita ed i sogni di loro e di migliaia di loro concittadini.

I colpi dei cecchini non hanno permesso loro di continuare la loro storia d'amore, in un luogo più felice.

Rimarranno "per sempre" abbracciati sul ponte di Vrbanja, sul fiume Miljacka, come simbolo e promemoria di quale "oscurità" possa soggiogare la mente umana" - Safet Zec.

32 anni fa morirono Romeo e Giulietta di Sarajevo, Boško Brkić ortodosso ed Admira Ismić musulmana.

Da allora la loro morte viene usata come esempio di assurdità̀ della distruzione della guerra nella regione.

Questa coppia, entrambi 25 anni di età, tentò di fuggire il 18 maggio 1993, dal male e dalla pazzia della guerra che colpì il loro paese, e furono uccisi sul ponte Vrbanja sul fiume Miljacka.

Giovani ed innamorati, di religioni diverse, si stavano preparando per le nozze e per fuggire da una realtà insopportabile.

Organizzarono la fuga dalla Sarajevo circondata con un amico comune e partirono per la libertà il 18 maggio 1993.

Credendo che ci fosse un cessate il fuoco attivo, non aspettarono la notte, ma proseguirono già alle 17:00.

Arrivarono solo al ponte di Vrbanja, dove il primo proiettile di un cecchino colpì Boško, e poi Admira.

Ferita a morte, strisciò verso il corpo di Boško, lo abbracciò e spirò.

Quel fatale pomeriggio di maggio, nella speranza di riuscire a fuggire da Sarajevo, furono uccisi da un cecchino e lasciati a giacere l'uno tra le braccia dell'altra per giorni sull'asfalto di Sarajevo, perché nessuno osava spostarli dalla linea di demarcazione.

I loro corpi rimasero per strada per sette giorni.