The Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina () or SAO Krajina () was a self-proclaimed Serb Autonomous Region (oblast) within modern-day Croatia (then a part of Yugoslavia). The territory consisted of majority-Serbian municipalities of the Republic of Croatia that declared autonomy in October 1990. It was formed as the SAO Kninska Krajina (САО Книнска Крајина), but, upon inclusion of additional Serb-populated areas, changed its name simply to SAO Krajina. In 1991 the SAO Krajina declared itself the Republic of Serbian Krajina, and subsequently included the other two Serbian SAOs in Croatia, the SAO Western Slavonia and the SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia.

History

In 1990, following Croatian multi-party elections and victory of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), ethnic tensions between Croats and Serbs worsened.

On 17 August 1990, an insurrection began in areas of the Republic of Croatia which were populated significantly by ethnic Serbs. The organizers were armed with illegal weapons supplied by Milan Martić.

In anticipation of a declaration of Croatian independence, Croatian Serb leaders created an autonomous region around the city of Knin. The Serbian National Council (SNV) was formed, functioning as a parliament for the region and as the ultimate authority on Croatian Serbs. It organized a successful referendum on autonomy in August.

Initially, this region was dubbed the SAO Kninska Krajina in September 1990, but, after joining with the Association of Municipalities of Northern Dalmatia and Lika, it was renamed and proclaimed as SAO Krajina in December 1990.

On February 28, 1991 the SAO Krajina was officially declared. Afterwards the Krajina assembly declared that "the territory of the SAO Krajina is a constitutive part of the unified territory of the Republic of Serbia".

This self-proclaimed SAO Krajina was dissolved after August 5, 1995 when Croatian armed forces reintegrated its territories into Croatia.

See also

  • Croatian War of Independence
  • Breakup of Yugoslavia
  • Republic of Serbian Krajina
  • Serbian Autonomous Oblasts
  • Kninska Krajina
  • SAO Western Slavonia
  • SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia
  • Socialist Republic of Croatia

References

  • Yugoslav Wars map