The Appeals Chamber today declared proceedings closed in the case against Pavle Strugar, a former Yugoslav People’s Army(JNA) General charged with crimes in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik in 1991. 

In the decision, the Appeals Chamber accepted the withdrawal by both the defence and prosecution of their appeals in the case, filed 15 September 2006

The Prosecution based its withdrawal, on “the exceptional humanitarian circumstances pertaining to Pavle Strugar, in particular his advanced age, poor state of health and general condition”. The move immediately followed the withdrawal of the defence’s appeal against the sentence

On 31 January 2005, Strugar was found guilty and sentenced to eight years by a Trial Chamber for attacks on civilians; destruction or willful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion, charity and education, the arts and sciences, historic monuments and works or art and science, all in relation to JNA’s attack on Dubrovnik in 1991. According to the judgment, Strugar had both legal and effective control of the JNA forces who conducted the military action at Dubrovnik, including the shelling of the Old Town of Dubrovnik

With the withdrawal of the prosecution’s appeal, Strugar’s sentence of eight years imprisonment has become definitive. Strugar will in due course be transferred to serve his sentence.