| Press Advisory |
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 16 July 2009
VE/MOW/PA374e
Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić Judgement To Be Rendered On 20 July 2009
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| Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić |
The Judgement in the case of Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić, former Bosnian Serb paramilitaries accused of murder, torture and extermination committed against the Bosnian Muslims in eastern Bosnian town of Višegrad during the 1992-1995 conflict, is scheduled to be rendered on Monday, 20 July at 14:15 in Courtroom III.
The Prosecution alleges that Milan Lukić was the leader of the "White Eagles" or "Avengers", a group of local Bosnian Serb paramilitaries in Višegrad which worked with local police and military units in exacting a reign of terror upon the local Bosnian Muslim population during the 1992-1995 war. Sredoje Lukić, Milan Lukić's cousin, was also a member of the unit according to the Prosecution.
The two are charged with personally taking part in the murder of approximately 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly men in a house on Pionirska Street in Višegrad. On 14 June 1992, the victims were barricaded in one room of the house which was then set on fire. Victims who tried to escape were shot.
In addition, both Accused are alleged to have forced about 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly into a house in the Bikavac settlement of Višegrad, blocking all 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, including multiple murders of Bosnian Muslim men on the bank of Drina river. He is also charged with brutally murdering a Bosnian Muslim woman in the Potok neighbourhood of Višegrad.
The Trial of Milan and Sredoje Lukić began on 9 July 2008 and the Prosecution completed its case-in-chief on 11 November 2008 after calling a total of 45 witnesses. Sredoje Lukić’s Defence case commenced on 1 December 2008 and concluded on 2 December 2008 after calling a total of three witnesses. Milan Lukić’s Defence case commenced on 17 December 2008 and concluded on 21 April 2009 after calling a total of 28 witnesses. The Trial Chamber called a total of four witnesses. Closing arguments were heard on 19 and 20 May at which the Prosecution asked for both Accused to be sentenced to spend the remainder of their lives incarcerated while the Defence asked for both of them to be acquitted on all charges.
Milan and Sredoje Lukić were initially indicted together with Mitar Vasiljević. He was arrested in January 2000 and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by Appeals Chamber judgement rendered on 25 February 2004.
After seven years of evading justice Milan Lukić was arrested in Argentina in August 2005, his cousin Sredoje surrendered to the Bosnian Serb authorities the following month.
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 120 have been concluded.
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An information sheet on the case can be found at
http://www.icty.org/x/cases/milan_lukic_sredoje_lukic/cis/en/cis_lukic_lukic_en.pdf
Full text of the indictment can be found at
http://www.icty.org/x/cases/milan_lukic_sredoje_lukic/ind/en/luk-2ai060227.htm
Courtroom proceedings can be followed on the Tribunal’s website at www.icty.org
The reading of the Summary of the Judgement will be carried live.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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