The protests mark the largest outbreak of public anger over high unemployment and two decades of political inertia in the Balkan country of 3.8 million people since the end of the 1992–95 war.
Tuzla ;4–5 February Protests began on 4 February 2014, peacefully, in the city of
Tuzla,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, but turned violent the following day when hundreds of demonstrators, mostly former employees of several big companies, such as Dita, Polihem, Guming and Konjuh, clashed with police near the Tuzla local government building demanding compensation and calling on Tuzla officials to intervene instantly. Demonstrators blame local officials for allowing several state firms to collapse between 2000 and 2008 after being
privatized, leaving many unemployed. The protests later spread to various cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including
Bihać,
Mostar,
Zenica,
Kakanj and the capital
Sarajevo. Some of the protesters threw eggs, flares and stones at the windows of the building and set tires on fire, blocking traffic in the city center. Police eventually forced demonstrators back and cordoned off the building. One of the hundreds of protesters in the city said: "This is the start of the Bosnian Spring," alluding to the ongoing
Arab Spring which began in 2010. The protesters gathered in front of the
cantonal government building, requesting compensation and repayments of healthcare and pension payments after the privatized companies for which they worked failed. Local media reports said that some protesters scuffled with police after breaking into the cantonal government building, while others set garbage containers and tires on fire. As a result of the police brutality the day before, protesters were outraged. The next day, the number of protesters grew enormously; around 6,000 individuals gathered in front of the cantonal government building. The number of injured individuals also rose enormously. According to local newspapers, around 100 policemen were injured, with most of the injuries due to being hit by stones. 11 cars were destroyed and 27 protesters were arrested. Around 20 civilians sustained minor injuries. ;6 February On Thursday, 6 February, the protests spread into multiple cities in the country, at first by people who wanted to show solidarity with the citizens of Tuzla. In the capital city,
Sarajevo, protesters clashed with police who had blocked traffic in the city center. Four officers were hospitalized. Over 200 people blocked traffic in
Mostar and about 150
Zenica citizens protested in front of their local government building. One of the protestors in Zenica was quoted: "Today we fought for Tuzla, tomorrow we fight for all of us." Protests also broke out in
Bihać and
Tešanj, among others. 27 people who had been arrested the day before were released. That day also marked the first time since the start of the uprising that police used
tear gas on the crowds. More than two dozen people were hospitalized with tear-gas-related injuries. Schools throughout Tuzla were closed and residents of buildings yelled insults and threw buckets of water at the officers who passed-by in full riot gear. Elderly neighbors banged on their windows and balconies. ;7 February On 7 February, mass crowds began to gather at the same place and in over 20 major cities across the country. People gathered in their city centers to support the protests in Tuzla. According to the official statements, more than 130 people, including 104 police officers, were injured on the third day of anti-government demonstrations in Tuzla alone. After a long day of waiting, 10,000 outraged protesters broke through the last line of police defense around the cantonal government building. Around 100 younger protesters stormed into the building, throwing furniture and papers out of the windows and burning the building afterwards. Even quick intervention by local fire crews could not prevent the fire from spreading to other floors. The protesters gave them a "calm hour," after which the protests continued in front of the cantonal court. Protesters asked workers of the cantonal court to address them about their plans in freeing the remaining protesters arrested that day and the day before, which included the leader and organizer of the demonstrations. Shortly thereafter, a rain of stones started hitting the cantonal court. The group of 10,000 people started moving towards the municipal building, where all workers were evacuated before the angry mob arrived. The attack on the municipal building included a few short fights between the protesters and the special police units. It included the use of tear gas, which outraged the protesters even more. After the police fell back, protesters started throwing bricks and stones at the building, breaking windows that way. Shortly after burning the municipal building, it was announced that the police forces had switched sides and joined the protesters. During the unrest on Friday, 7 February, the mayor of
Brčko was taken hostage by the crowd for a short while and then released. In the afternoon, a unit of
special police of the Tuzla canton, under commanding officer Dževad Korman, lowered their
shields and took off their helmets, which caused a wave of enthusiasm from the crowd, the members of which then approached and shook hands with the special forces members. Both the regular and the judicial police followed suit in front of the
court and the
prosecution buildings. ;8 February By 8 February, the riots had stopped and all the people had resumed peaceful protests and began clearing the streets of garbage and debris.
Zenica On 7 February, protestors in
Zenica forced their way through a police cordon and set fire to a local government building and surrounding cars. The entire government of
Zenica-Doboj Canton announced that they would resign during their next meeting. On 9 February, late in the night, the government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton analyzed the situation. On 10 February, protesters gathered again in front of the Cantonal building, demanding immediate changes in social politics. Protest representatives held a meeting with the government officials to present their demands. During the protests, the main city
boulevard was blocked for traffic.
Sarajevo ;7 February
Tear gas and smoke blanketed downtown Sarajevo, where police fired
rubber bullets on several thousand protesters who set fire to the headquarters of the capital's cantonal government.
Water cannon was also used to disperse protesters who were trying to enter the
presidency building. Dense smoke was caused by the burning of several police cars near the
Building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was also heavily damaged when the demonstrators set fire to sections of the State Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is located there. Demonstrators also torched and stoned the building of the
Centar Municipality, Sarajevo, as well as the seat of the regional government of the
Sarajevo Canton. A spokesperson for the municipal court of Sarajevo, Alem Hamzić, stated that 33 protesters had been released—adding, "Criminal proceedings will be launched against some ten demonstrators with court likely imposing prohibitive measures. Prohibitive measures include: ban on meeting and communicating, confiscation of passports and identity documents, and they will need to report twice weekly to the relevant police department." Peaceful demonstrations continued throughout the day on 9 February. ;10 February Some time after 10 o'clock in the evening, an explosion in Skenderija shocked the Sarajevo metropolitan area; no casualties were reported.
Bihać Protests began in Bihać as early as 6 February. On 8 February, over 3,000 disgruntled citizens rallied at the Town Square to express dissatisfaction with the government of the
Una-Sana Canton, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's
ten post-war cantons, demanding the resignation of the canton's Prime Minister
Hamdija Lipovača and the Minister of the Police. In front of the local government building, protesters from all over the country were met by police. Protesters shouted "Thieves!" and "We want resignation!" and asked the police to side with them. Police officers confiscated a number of
Molotov cocktails. Shops in the city center closed down as a precautionary measure. Hundreds of protesters gathered around Prime Minister Lipovača's home, fighting against the police and demanding resignation. The clash with police injured several people and the crowd later dispersed. On 10 February 2014, after days of protests that involved at least 3,000 people, the Prime Minister of the
Una-Sana Canton Hamdija Lipovača officially resigned. ==UDAR in May==