Trial Chamber III is scheduled to render its Judgment in the case of Vojislav Šešelj on 31 March 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom I.
Šešelj is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed from about August 1991 until September 1993 against the non-Serb population of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the province of Vojvodina in the Republic of Serbia.
According to the indictment, Šešelj committed these crimes including through participation in a joint criminal enterprise (JCE), the purpose of which was the permanent forcible removal of a majority of the Croat, Muslim and other non-Serb populations from parts of Croatia, BiH and Vojvodina, Serbia.
The indictment further alleges that, among other things, Šešelj participated in the recruitment, formation, financing, supply, support and direction of Serbian volunteer units, which were created and supported to assist in the execution of the JCE through the commission of crimes. The indictment also alleges that Šešelj made inflammatory speeches, in which he instigated the volunteer units and other Serb forces to commit crimes, and encouraged the creation of a homogeneous “Greater Serbia” by violence, thereby participating in war propaganda and incitement of hatred towards non-Serb people.
The trial commenced on 27 November 2006, short after which the case was adjourned for reasons related to Šešelj’s health. The trial restarted on 7 November 2007 and the Prosecution completed the presentation of its evidence on 13 January 2010. On 4 May 2011, the Trial Chamber issued an oral decision pursuant to Rule 98bis of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal dismissing the motion for acquittal filed by Šešelj. Judge Antonetti appended a dissenting opinion. There was no Defence case and the parties presented their closing arguments between 5 and 20 March 2012.
On 6 November 2014, the majority of the Trial Chamber ordered the provisional release of Šešelj on humanitarian grounds due to the deterioration of his health. Šešelj was transferred to Serbia on 12 November 2014.
Since its establishment, the Tribunal has indicted 161 persons for serious violations of humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. Proceedings against 149 accused individuals have been concluded. Proceedings are currently ongoing for 12 accused.
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The Judgement will be broadcast live on the Tribunal’s website
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