Over more than a decade, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has indicted 20 suspects for crimes committed in July 1995 at Srebrenica. All were arrested and brought to The Hague.
Of those, 14 were convicted, one was acquitted,and three proceedings are currently ongoing.
Almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered after the eastern Bosnian UN enclave was overrun by Bosnian Serb troops in mid-July 1995.
The victims' bodies were dumped in mass graves in Europe's worst massacre since World War II. It was also one of the darkest episodes of Bosnia's brutal three-year civil war, which claimed 100,000 lives and displaced 2.2 million people.
Key sentences:
- Zdravko Tolimir -
Considered the right-hand man of Bosnian Serb force commander Ratko Mladic, Tolimir was handed a life sentence in April 2015. The former intelligence and security chief was found guilty of genocide and other crimes.
- Radislav Krstic -
The Bosnian Serb general led the attack on Srebrenica and was the first-ever suspect to be convicted of genocide, which he aided and abetted. Sentenced to 35 years in prison, his case was upheld on appeal in April 2004.
- Popovic and others -
The ICTY on appeal in January 2015 confirmed two life sentences for Vujadin Popovic and Ljubisa Beara, two senior officers in the Bosnian Serb army convicted of genocide. Four other accused were sentenced to between 35 and 13 years. A seventh accused, Milan Gvero, has subsequently died after being convicted.
- Vidoje Blagojevic and Dragan Jokic -
A senior officer in the Bosnian Serb army, Blagojevic was sentenced to 15 years and Jokic was handed a nine-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Trials currently underway:
The genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity trials against Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and military commander Ratko Mladic, who commanded Bosnian Serb forces at Srebrenica, is currently still underway at the ICTY.
- Radovan Karadzic -
Facing 11 charges, including one of genocide for Srebrenica, Karadzic failed to enter a plea in the case so a plea of not guilty was made on his behalf. Closing arguments in the case wrapped up in October 2014 and a judgement is expected in December.
- Ratko Mladic -
Mladic's defence has been ongoing since May last year, but the prosecution was recently allowed to add more elements to the case after the discovery of a new mass grave. Mladic faces similar charges to Karadzic. Judgement is expected in November 2017.
- Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic -
Stanisic, once Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's intelligence chief and his colleague Simatovic were both acquitted. The prosecution has appealed the decision.
Acquittals:
- Momcilo Perisic -
The former Yugoslav ex-army chief was acquitted on appeal in February 2013. He was accused of, among other things, "aiding and abetting" the Bosnian Serb army in their persecution and murder of Muslims at Srebrenica.
Perisic was initially sentenced to 27 years, but an ICTY appeals bench ruled that it was not proven "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Perisic had helped the Bosnian Serb army to commit crimes.
Died during trial:
- Slobodan Milosevic -
The former Yugoslav president and Serbian strongman died in detention in March 2006, facing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges. The case against him was terminated.
Over more than a decade, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has indicted 20 suspects for crimes committed in July 1995 at Srebrenica. All were arrested and brought to The Hague.
Of those, 14 were convicted, one was acquitted,and three proceedings are currently ongoing.
Almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered after the eastern Bosnian UN enclave was overrun by Bosnian Serb troops in mid-July 1995.
The victims’ bodies were dumped in mass graves in Europe’s worst massacre since World War II. It was also one of the darkest episodes of Bosnia’s brutal three-year civil war, which claimed 100,000 lives and displaced 2.2 million people.
Key sentences:
– Zdravko Tolimir –
Considered the right-hand man of Bosnian Serb force commander Ratko Mladic, Tolimir was handed a life sentence in April 2015. The former intelligence and security chief was found guilty of genocide and other crimes.
– Radislav Krstic –
The Bosnian Serb general led the attack on Srebrenica and was the first-ever suspect to be convicted of genocide, which he aided and abetted. Sentenced to 35 years in prison, his case was upheld on appeal in April 2004.
– Popovic and others –
The ICTY on appeal in January 2015 confirmed two life sentences for Vujadin Popovic and Ljubisa Beara, two senior officers in the Bosnian Serb army convicted of genocide. Four other accused were sentenced to between 35 and 13 years. A seventh accused, Milan Gvero, has subsequently died after being convicted.
– Vidoje Blagojevic and Dragan Jokic –
A senior officer in the Bosnian Serb army, Blagojevic was sentenced to 15 years and Jokic was handed a nine-year sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Trials currently underway:
The genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity trials against Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and military commander Ratko Mladic, who commanded Bosnian Serb forces at Srebrenica, is currently still underway at the ICTY.
– Radovan Karadzic –
Facing 11 charges, including one of genocide for Srebrenica, Karadzic failed to enter a plea in the case so a plea of not guilty was made on his behalf. Closing arguments in the case wrapped up in October 2014 and a judgement is expected in December.
– Ratko Mladic –
Mladic’s defence has been ongoing since May last year, but the prosecution was recently allowed to add more elements to the case after the discovery of a new mass grave. Mladic faces similar charges to Karadzic. Judgement is expected in November 2017.
– Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic –
Stanisic, once Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic’s intelligence chief and his colleague Simatovic were both acquitted. The prosecution has appealed the decision.
Acquittals:
– Momcilo Perisic –
The former Yugoslav ex-army chief was acquitted on appeal in February 2013. He was accused of, among other things, “aiding and abetting” the Bosnian Serb army in their persecution and murder of Muslims at Srebrenica.
Perisic was initially sentenced to 27 years, but an ICTY appeals bench ruled that it was not proven “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Perisic had helped the Bosnian Serb army to commit crimes.
Died during trial:
– Slobodan Milosevic –
The former Yugoslav president and Serbian strongman died in detention in March 2006, facing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges. The case against him was terminated.
