Perception on Russia-Ukraine Conflict and International Justice among Bosniaks in Serbia

This study examines how the Bosniak minority in Serbia perceives the Russia-Ukraine war through the lens of international justice. Given their own history of conflict and contested justice mechanisms (e.g., ICTY), pro-Russian public sentiment in Serbia and Serbia’s geopolitical ambivalence towards Russia-Ukraine war, Bosniak perspectives offer critical insights into minority dissent in polarized environments. A newly developed instrument – featuring scales on “Perception of Justice among Bosniaks in Serbia” and “The Russia-Ukraine Conflict” – was tested on 112 Bosniak respondents living in Serbia. Statistical analysis revealed that respondents held predominantly negative views of Russia’s role, the war’s consequences, and the in-ternational justice system. Higher education levels correlated with stronger anti-Russian perceptions, while skepticism toward the West’s and region’s treatment of Bosniaks and global injustice shaped war-related attitudes. The findings suggest Bosniaks perceive Russia as an aggressor operating outside accountability frameworks, reflecting broader minority distrust toward Serbia’s geopolitical alignment.