Ljubuški

Ljubuški
Municipality and town

Flag

Coat of arms
Ljubuški

Location of Široki Brijeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Coordinates: 43°11′56.20″N 17°32′48.00″E / 43.1989444°N 17.5466667°ECoordinates: 43°11′56.20″N 17°32′48.00″E / 43.1989444°N 17.5466667°E
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canton West Herzegovina
Government
  Mayor Nevenko Barbarić (HDZ BiH)
Area
  Total 292.7 km2 (113.0 sq mi)
  Land 292.7 km2 (113.0 sq mi)
  Water 0 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population (2013)
  Total 29,521
  Density 100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Post code 88320
Area code +387 039
Website www.ljubuski.ba

Ljubuški is a town and municipality in West Herzegovina. It is located in the West Herzegovina Canton, a federal unit of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Demographics

1971

28.269 total

1991

In the 1991 census, the municipality of Ljubuški had a population of 28,340, of which 26,127 were Croats (92.1%), 1,592 Bosniaks (5.6%), 227 Yugoslavs (0.8%), 65 Serbs (0.2%), and 329 others (1.1%). The town of Ljubuški had 7,407 residents: 75% Croats, 20% Bosniaks, 3% Yugoslavs, 1% Serbs and 1% others.

History

The town was first time mentioned in 1444. The name Ljubuški originates from an ancient Slavic name Libusa who used to be the first wife of the then ruler of Herzegovina Herzeg Stjepan.

Yugoslav Wars

Main article: Yugoslav Wars

During the Bosnian War, Ljubuški served as the headquarters of the Croatian Defence Forces.

Branimir Glavaš, a Croatian Major General during the Croatian war of independence was found guilty of torture and murder of Serbian civilians in Osijek, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, Vladimir Šišljagić, the leader of HDSSB, the political party Glavaš founded when he left HDZ, showed up in court instead of him and stated that he was "in a safe place". Glavaš fled the country, reportedly to Ljubuški, and it is suspected he had procured citizenship in Bosnia-Herzegovina. His supporters also distributed a 5-minute video he recorded, explaining his decision to flee.

Sports

The town is home to the successful handball club HRK Izviđač and two football clubs NK Sloga Ljubuški and NK Bigeste Ljubuški

Notable people

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ljubuški.