| Press Release |
CHAMBERS
|
| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
|
The Hague, 5 April 2007
CT/MOW/1153e
Decision rendered on referral of Milan and Sredoje Lukić to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Tribunal's Referral Bench today rendered a decision to refer the case of Milan and Sredoje Lukić to Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with Rule 11bis of the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure and Evidence. This decision can be appealed.
According to the indictment, Milan Lukić was the leader of the "White Eagles" or "Avengers", a group of local Bosnian Serb paramilitaries in Višegrad, south-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina which worked with local police and military units in exacting a reign of terror upon the local Bosnian Muslim population during the 1992-1995 conflict. Sredoje Lukić, Milan Lukić's cousin, was a member of the unit.
Milan and Sredoje Lukić are charged with multiple crimes, including murdering approximately 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly men in a house on Pionirska Street in Višegrad by barricading the victims in one room of the house, setting the house on fire and then firing automatic weapons at those people who tried to escape through the windows, killing some and injuring others.
In addition, they are charged with murdering approximately 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly in a house in the village of Bikavac, near Višegrad, by forcing the victims into the house, barricading all the exits and throwing in several explosive devices.
Milan and Sredoje Lukić are also accused of beating Bosnian Muslim men who were detained in the detention camp at the Uzamnica military barracks in Višegrad.
Milan Lukić is separately charged with several other counts of murder, according to which he on multiple occasions led groups of Bosnian Muslim men to the bank of Drina river near Višegrad where he murdered them. He is also charged with brutally murdering a Bosnian Muslim woman in the Potok neighbourhood of Višegrad.
The ICTY has to date transferred nine accused to Bosnia and Herzegovina for trial, two accused to Croatia and one to Serbia.
*****
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
For more information, please contact our Media Office in The Hague
Tel.: +31-70-512-8752; 512-5343; 512-5356 Fax: +31-70-512-5355 - Email: press [at] icty.org ()
Follow ICTY on Twitter and Youtube