The Appeals Chamber Judgement in the case of Vujadin Popović and others is scheduled to be rendered on Friday, 30 January at 10:00 am in courtroom I.

The Appeals case involves five high-ranking Bosnian Serb military officials convicted in June 2010 of a range of crimes committed in 1995 in relation to the fall of the enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Journalists wishing to cover the hearing should send an email to press [at] icty.org by Wednesday, 28 January, 5:00 pm. The email should contain the name of the media outlet as well as full name, passport number and contact details of all journalists and AV technicians coming to the Tribunal.

Members of the public wishing to attend the hearing are requested to send an email to kralt.icty [at] un.org for more information on the procedure to be followed and the available space. 

Case Background

In June 2010, the Trial Chamber handed down convictions for committing genocide to Vujadin Popović, Chief of Security of the Drina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), and Ljubiša Beara, Chief of Security in the VRS Main Staff. They were sentenced to life imprisonment. The Chamber also found Drago Nikolić, Chief of Security in the VRS Zvornik Brigade, guilty of aiding and abetting genocide, and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. Additionally, all three individuals were found guilty of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.

The Chamber convicted Radivoje Miletić, Chief of the Operations and Training Administration of the VRS Main Staff, for crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 19 years’ imprisonment. Vinko Pandurević, Commander of the VRS Zvornik Brigade, was also found guilty by the Chamber for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war and was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.

The Trial Chamber ruling also concerned two individuals not included in the Appeals case. Ljubomir Borovčanin, former Deputy Commander of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Police Brigade, did not file an appeal and was transferred to Denmark in 2011 to serve his 17 year sentence. Following the death of Milan Gvero, Assistant Commander for Morale, Legal and Religious Affairs of the VRS Main Staff, the Appeals Chamber terminated proceedings against him in March 2013.

Case information

The Judgement will be broadcast live on the Tribunal’s website

The Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, Magdalena Spalińska, can be reached on +31(0)70 512 5066 and spalinska [at] un.org

For further information please call the Media Office at +31 (70) 512-8752, or -5343, or -5356.