/Public Information

Srebrenica: 28 Years of Avoiding Accountability

Srebrenica: 28 Years of Avoiding Accountability

Saopstenje-srebrenica-enFor 28 years, the institutions of the Republic of Serbia have covered up, denied, and minimized the genocide in Srebrenica. They support, protect, and celebrate those who committed the genocide, while concealing and avoiding the responsibility of state authorities for supporting its execution. Those accused of participating in the Srebrenica genocide are finding refuge in Serbia, while the convicted individuals actively participate in public and political life, free to distort facts and minimize the scale of the genocide. Judicial authorities, including the Office of War Crimes Prosecutor, directly and indirectly delay and obstruct the establishment of facts about the genocide in Srebrenica before domestic courts. The qualification of the Srebrenica crime as genocide is not applied, the number of victims is reduced, and the few convicted perpetrators receive unduly mild sentences. Any connection between Serbian state authorities and the execution of the genocide is carefully concealed in proceedings before domestic courts.

The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) considers such conduct by state authorities unacceptable and harmful. It is necessary for judicial institutions to prosecute all those for whom there is evidence of their participation in the genocide and that trials proceed without delay. We demand that officials and institutions of the Republic of Serbia cease the practice of denying the genocide, acknowledge the judicially established facts about the crimes committed in Srebrenica, sincerely apologize to the victims and their families, and provide them with just reparations.


Share

Procrastination of Court Trial under Disputable Circumstances of Chamber Member Replacement

Procrastination of Court Trial under Disputable Circumstances of Chamber Member Replacement

Saopstenje-Loncar-enHumanitarian Law Center (HLC) flags the suspicious intentions of the Republic of Serbia’s judicial authorities, evinced by substituting a member of trial chamber in the case of Srebrenica, seven years after the proceedings commenced. This elicited doubts in bringing to an end the trial of seven former members of the Special Brigade of the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior for the murder of at least 1,313 Bosniak civilians and, thus, in pronouncing fair judgments. Although the Criminal Procedure Code sets forth that the main trial can be restarted should the composition of the trial chamber change, in this case it is the circumstances that brought about the replacement of the chamber member that are contestable.

The High Court Council has not met its obligation to take a reasoned decision on renewal of the judge’s term of office, which resulted in imminent replacement of the trial chamber member. In order to end the war crime trials without prolongation and to protect the victims’ family members and witnesses from additional traumatisation, HLC calls upon the High Court Council to observe its obligations and act in the interest of fair and just completion of trials, without further delays.


Share
«‹67891011121314›»