Zvornik

History

Zvornik is first mentioned in 1410, although it was known as Zvonik ("bell tower") at that time. The town's geographic location has made it an important trade link between Bosnia and the east. For instance, the main road connecting Sarajevo and Belgrade runs through the city. The medieval fort known as Kula grad was built in the early 7th century and still stands on the Mlađevac mountainous range overlooking the Drina Valley.

Ottoman rule

During the Ottoman period, Zvornik was the capital of the Sanjak of Zvornik (an administrative region) within the Eyalet of Bosnia. This was primarily the case because of the city's crucial role in the economy and the strategic importance of the city's location. The Sanjak of Zvornik was one of six Ottoman sanjaks with most developed shipbuilding (besides the sanjaks of Vidin, Nicopolis, Požega, Smederevo and Mohač). In 1806, Zvornik was home to Mehmed-beg Kulenović.

Stojan Čupić (also known as Zmaj od Noćaja), one of the leaders of the First Serbian Uprising, was captured and murdered by the Turks in Zvornik in 1815. He was initially buried near the road from Zvornik to Tuzla, and his remains were moved to Salaš Noćajski in 1988.

World War II

Ustasha troops of the fascist Independent State of Croatia occupied Zvornik, along with most of Bosnia, in April 1941. The town was liberated in July 1943 by the 1st Proletarian Brigade during the Battle of Zvornik.

Bosnian war

Main article: Zvornik massacre

During the Bosnian War (1992–1995) Zvornik's Bosniak population was expelled. The military attack of paramilitary groups that came from Serbia on Zvornik Bosniaks commenced on 8 April 1992. During April 1992, many European news stations daily reported Serb armed attacks and mass killings of the Bosniak population of Zvornik and the surrounding villages.

On 19 May 1992, combined JNA, Serb paramilitary and Arkan's Tigers took control of Zvornik and Mali Zvornik. The suburbs of Karakaj and Čelopek were places of prisons where hundreds of local Bosniaks were killed. The remaining Bosniaks and non-Serbs were relegated to concentration camps and detention facilities throughout the area. During the war, Serb forces destroyed at least 26 mosques in and around the city.

File:Kula grad Zvornik 210 (63).jpg|Zvornik Fortress File:Stećci Zvornik.jpg|Photograph of Stećci in Zvornik File:Durch Bosnien und die Herzegovina kreuz und quer; Wanderungen (1897) (14779343384).jpg|Zvornik in 1897. File:DD-SD-00-00561.JPEG|Local policemen and US military personnel on their way to check a post-Dayton resettlement effort

Settlements

Aside from the city proper area of Zvornik, the municipality comprises the following settlements:

• Androvići
• Baljkovica
• Baljkovica Donja
• Boškovići
• Buložani
• Čelopek
• Cer
• Divič
• Donja Pilica
• Donji Lokanj
• Drinjača
• Dugi Dio
• Đevanje
• Đulići
• Glodi
• Glumina
• Goduš
• Gornja Pilica
• Gornji Lokanj
• Grbavci Donji
• Grbavci Gornji
• Gušteri
• Jardan
• Jasenica
• Jusići
• Kamenica Donja
• Kamenica Gornja
• Kiseljak
• Kitovnice
• Klisa
• Kostijerevo
• Kozluk
• Kraljevići
• Križevići
• Kučić Kula
• Kula Grad
• Liješanj
• Liplje
• Malešići
• Marčići
• Međeđa
• Mehmedići
• Nezuk
• Novo Selo
• Pađine
• Paljevići
• Petkovci
• Potočani
• Rastošnica
• Roćević
• Rožanj
• Sapna
• Skočić
• Snagovo
• Snagovo Donje
• Snagovo Gornje
• Sopotnik
• Šepak Donji
• Šepak Gornji
• Šetići
• Tabanci
• Trnovica
• Tršić
• Ugljari
• Vitinica
• Vrela
• Zaseok
• Zelinje

Demographics

Population

Ethnic composition

Economy

The table shows the number of registered people employed in legal entities by their core activity in 2018:

Culture

The Cultural Summer of Zvornik (Zvorničko kulturno ljeto) is an annual event held in the first week of August, usually for six days. Its main objective is to become a traditional cultural event which will open the doors of Zvornik for recognized cultural values.

The festival was first held in August 2001 as a local event and has grown to be one of the biggest festivals in the Balkans.

In 2007, famous singers such as Neda Ukraden and Sandi Cenov participated, but in 2008 theis festival featured some of the most notable stars from former Yugoslavia, like Željko Joksimović, Hari Mata Hari, Van Gogh and Marinko Rokvić. There is also a regatta on the river Drina, a fun marathon and many cultural events and competitions during day and night.

International co-operation

Zvornik is twinned with:

• SRB Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia

Other friendships and cooperations, protocols, memorandums:

• RUS Kolchugino, Russia

Sport

The local football clubs, FK Drina Zvornik and ŽFK Drina Zvornik, play in the First League of the Republika Srpska. Members of the First league of Republika Srpska also are volleyball and handball clubs Zvornik.

Notable people

• Seka Aleksić, singer
• Ermin Bičakčić, footballer
• Rade Đokić, footballer
• Amer Hrustanović, sports wrestler, European medallist
• Said Husejinović, footballer
• Goran Ikonić, basketball player
• Zlatko Junuzović, Austrian footballer
• Samir Muratović, footballer
• Nada Obrić, singer
• Denis Omerbegović, footballer
• Borisav Pisić, athlete
• Sejad Salihović, footballer
• Alan Ibrahimagić, basketball coach

References

• Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.

References

1. "Osnovne informacije – Turistička organizacija grada Zvornik".
2. [http://elevationmap.net/zvornik-75400-bosnia-and-herzegovina?latlngs=%2844.3868886,19.103208999999993%29 Zvornik fortress Altitude and Location]
3. "Zvornik: Kule kao svedoci vekova". NOVOSTI.
4. "Zvornik Through History".
5. "Zvornik".
6. "Zvornik Fortress (Kula Grad)".
7. (1979). "Godis̆njak grada Beograda". Beogradske novine.
8. "Zmaj od noćaja – Turistička organizacija grada Zvornik".
9. [http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/ANX/VIII-08.htm#III.A.91 UN report on Zvornik] {{webarchive. link. (10 September 2010)
10. (8 October 1998). ""One of the biggest" mass graves found in Bosnia". BBC News.
11. "War in Bosnia {{!}} UN IRMCT".
12. (25 December 2019). "Cities and Municipalities of Republika Srpska". Republika Srspka Institute of Statistics.
13. "Zvornik's summer – Turistička organizacija grada Zvornik". Turistička organizacija grada Zvornika.
14. (30 September 2013). "Zvornik odlučio da se pobratimi sa Sremskom Mitrovicom".
15. "СПОРАЗУМ О САРАДЊИ ЗВОРНИКА И КОЉЧУГИНА {{!}} СРНА".
16. [http://sportdc.net/tak/3048 First league of RS 2017/18]