| Press Release |
REGISTRY
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 22 March 2011
VE/MOW/1398e
Dragomir Milošević Transferred to Estonia to Serve Sentence
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| Dragomir Milošević |
Dragomir Milošević, a former Bosnian Serb Army General, was transferred today to Estonia to serve his 29-year sentence for crimes committed against civilians of Sarajevo during the second half of the 1992-1995 siege of the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dragomir Milošević was the commander of the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps (SRK) of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) which encircled and entrapped the city of Sarajevo during the three and half year long conflict. Milošević assumed the command of the SRK from his former superior Stanislav Galić in August 1994 and remained in that position over a 15-month period up to the end of the conflict in November 1995.
In the first instance judgement, which was rendered on 12 December 2007, The Trial Chamber found that Milošević was guilty of crimes against humanity and of a violation of the laws or customs of war. He was convicted on five counts of terror, murder and inhumane acts conducted during a campaign of sniping and shelling which resulted in the injury and death of a great number of civilians in the besieged Bosnian capital.
On 12 November 2009, the Appeals Chamber granted Milošević’s appeal in part and reduced his sentence from 33 to 29 years’ imprisonment. The Appeals Chamber ruled that, whereas the evidence cited in the Trial Judgement did not support a finding that Milošević had planned and ordered the sniping incidents, his command responsibility for having failed to prevent and punish the said crimes committed by his subordinates had been established beyond reasonable doubt.
The Appeals Chamber upheld the majority of the Trial Chamber’s convictions for ordering the shelling of the civilian population in Sarajevo during the 15-month period, except for the shelling of the Baščaršija Flea Market on 22 December 1994, of the BITAS building on 22 August 1995 and of the Markale Market on 28 August 1995. The Appeals Chamber however upheld the Trial Chamber’s finding that the SRK was responsible for the shelling of the BITAS building and Markale Market as well as all other findings related to the victims of both incidents.
On 14 February 2011, the President of the Tribunal issued his decision, designating Estonia as the State in which Milošević is to serve his sentence. Milošević is the second convicted person to be transferred to Estonia. Milan Martić, former wartime political leader of Croatian Serbs, was transferred on 26 June 2009. The Tribunal commends the Estonian authorities for their continued support in ensuring the enforcement of the Tribunal’s sentences.
The Tribunal takes this opportunity to emphasize the crucial role that Member States play in enforcing its sentences. To date, the Tribunal has signed agreements on the enforcement of sentences with 17 States. To ensure the successful completion of its mandate, the Tribunal calls upon Member States to assist it in securing additional enforcement capacity.
Since its establishment, the Tribunal has indicted 161 persons for serious violations of humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001. Proceedings against 125 have been concluded. Proceedings are currently ongoing for 34 accused.
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An information sheet concerning the case can be found on the Tribunal’s website at:
http://www.icty.org/x/cases/dragomir_milosevic/cis/en/cis_milosevic_dragomir_en.pdf
Further information on the enforcement of sentences can be found at:
http://www.icty.org/sid/10276
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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