The Senior Court in Belgrade has released the former commander of the Drina Corps of the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) Milenka Zivanović’s war crimes against the civilian population committed during July 1995. in the protected area of Srebrenica.
The Court concluded that Zivanovic, although as a commander issued orders of VRS units, did not order the forced emigration of the Bosniak population, but combat activities against enemy forces.
The Prosecution, who requested a legal minimum of five years in prison, announced the appeal against the verdict.
Živanović accused more points, including orders from November 1992. and March 1995. in which, according to the indictment, he calls for the living of the civilian population in Srebrenica, Zepa and its surroundings. One of the accusations of the indictment also referred to his order from July 1995. to provide a bus to evacuate civilians from the enclave.
NGOs, including the Humanitarian Law Center, criticized the work of the Prosecution, emphasizing that sufficient evidence was not delivered to the consequences of the Order signed by Živanović. According to their interpretation, the Defense is enabled to take control of during the trial.
During the process, Živanović defended his freedom and did not give statements after the verdict.
The indictment against Živanović was built in Serbia in late 2021. years, shortly after the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina accused him of the crime against humanity. BiH is charged with organizing the Blockage of the Srebrenica enclave, the ordering of artillery attacks, forced deportation and transport of captured men and boys, many of which were killed later.
Although the International and Regional Courts crime in Srebrenica have characterized as genocide, Serbia is not recognized by Serbia, and Zivanovic is one in a series of suspects that are not available to the BiH judiciary, because Serbia does not extradite their citizens.
In Belgrade, another process related to Srebrenica, the trial of eight members of the RS Police Brigade due to the murder of 1,313 Bosniak civilians in Kravica, which lasts from 2016. and is still in the phase of evidence.
(Type / Source: AA / PHOTO: Radio Free Europe)
