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Fikret AbdicDuring the Bosnian War of 1992-1995, Abdić became the main opponent of the Alija Izetbegovic regime. He founded the unrecognized Autonomous Region of Western Bosnia, which included the city of Velika Kladusa and several nearby districts. This state formation
Date of Birth: 29.09.1939
Country:  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Content:
- Fikret Abdić: A Contentious Figure in Bosnian History
- Business Success and Political Rise
- The Agrokomerc Trial and Political Ambitions
- Role in the Bosnian War
- War Crimes Prosecution and Imprisonment
- Legacy
Fikret Abdić: A Contentious Figure in Bosnian History
Early Life and Political BeginningsFikret Abdić was born in 1939 in Velika Kladuša, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was the third of thirteen children in a poor family. Witnessing the hardships of the Italian-German occupation during World War II, Abdić developed strong socialist ideals and a skepticism towards religious divisions.
Business Success and Political Rise
As an ambitious agricultural engineer, Abdić founded the "Agrokomerc" cooperative in Velika Kladuša. Through a combination of socialist initiatives, Western business practices, and political support, he transformed the region from one of poverty into an economic powerhouse. Locals affectionately called him "Baba" (Father) and revered him for his leadership.
The Agrokomerc Trial and Political Ambitions
In 1987, Abdić was arrested in a scandal that rocked Yugoslavia. The "Agrokomerc Trial" was believed to have been orchestrated to discredit Abdić's political patron, Hamdija Pozderac. Abdić was accused of financial irregularities and disrupting social planning.
After his release from prison, Abdić joined the Party of Democratic Action and won a seat in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990 elections. However, he declined the presidency despite receiving more votes than Alija Izetbegović.
Role in the Bosnian War
During the Bosnian War (1992-1995), Abdić became a prominent opponent of Izetbegović's regime. He established the unrecognized Autonomous Region of Western Bosnia, which included Velika Kladuša and surrounding areas. This entity allied with the Republic of Srpska and the Republic of Serbian Krajina.
Abdić signed agreements with Serbian leader Radovan Karadžić and Croatian leader Mate Boban, with the support of Slobodan Milošević and Franjo Tuđman. He secured trade privileges and Croatian citizenship from Croatia, which refused to extradite him after the war.
War Crimes Prosecution and Imprisonment
Despite his ties to the Tuđman regime, Abdić faced charges of genocide and war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the war. Croatia refused to extradite him until 2000. In 2002, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Croatian court for the deaths of 121 civilians and three prisoners of war.
While in prison, Abdić ran for president of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002 but lost. In 2005, his sentence was reduced to 15 years. He was released on parole in 2012 after serving two-thirds of his term.
Legacy
Fikret Abdić remains a controversial figure in Bosnian history. His supporters view him as a visionary leader who sought autonomy for his region, while his detractors accuse him of war crimes and collaboration with the aggressors during the Bosnian War. His legacy continues to be debated and re-evaluated in the context of Bosnia's complex and often troubled past.
