The Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, Emir Suljagić,sent a letter to the President of the Judson University in the United States of America, Dr. Gene Crum, requesting the urgent cancellation of the invitation and the planned award to Milorad Dodik on the upcoming World Leaders Forum.
The event titled “Standing Up For Democracy” is scheduled for April 30, 2026, and the announced attendance and tribute to the President of Republika Srpska sparked a sharp reaction from the Srebrenica Memorial Center.
In his letter, Suljagić emphasized that this decision by the Administration of the University is not a question of political disagreement, but of confirmed facts, judicial verdicts, and institutional responsibility.
Legitimatization of Genocide Denial
Suljagić in his letter reminded the U.S. University that genocide in Srebrenica was established by final judgments of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) ( including the judgment in the case of Radislav Krstić), as well as 2007 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“These are not disputed interpretations, but final and binding legal decisions that define historical and moral framework within which this question must be understood. The public record of Mr. Dodik is in direct and continuous contradiction with these findings,” Suljagić said.
The Director of the Memorial Center provided the U.S. university with a detailed chronology of Dodik’s attitude towards the genocide in Srebrenica. The letter emphasized the president of Republika Srpska has been continuously denying the genocide for years, and trying to qualify it as a “light” crime, he also publicly disputes the determined facts, including the number and identity of murdered victims. Suljagić warned that Dodik regularly denies legitimacy of international courts responsible for prosecution of genocide and other serious crimes, and that he constantly uses the rhetoric that intimidatesand insults the survivors of genocide. This directly undermines their dignity and negates their suffering.
As particularly shocking example, Suljagić, mentioned Dodik’s statements trivializing the mass graves, including the shameful statements about presence of “animal remains” in them. He emphasized that such vocabulary does not represent a legitimate debate, but intentional undermining of truth and dignity of the victims.
Universities Should Not Serve as Platforms for Revisionism
The letter harshly criticized the decision of the Judson University to give space and recognition titled “Standing Up for Democracy” to a person with such public narrative. Suljagić warned that such move cannot be seen as neutral, because it gives legitimacy to those who deny genocide.
“Universities are not neutral spaces when it comes to denial of determined crimes. They are protectors of knowledge and standards. The line between the open dialogue and legitimization of denial is clear when facts that are discussed about are definitely determined before the international courts,” said Suljagić.
In the end of the letter, Suljagić called the Judson University to reconsider and withdraw its decision. If this fails to happen, he requested that any Dodik’s participation be framed by clear and explicit reminders of the established judicial facts regarding Srebrenica, as well as his public record of denying them.
“The credibility of instituions dedicated to education and democratic values does not only depend on who they invite, but on the standards they are ready to defend,” concludes the letter from the Srebrenica Memorial Center.
