Beara and Popović's life sentences for genocide in Srebrenica confirmed!

Final verdicts were delivered today at the Hague Tribunal for VRS officers accused of genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica in July 1995, reports the Patria News Agency.

Vujadin Popović was sentenced to life imprisonment, as decided by the Trial Chamber in 2010. Ljubiša Beara was also found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment. They were found guilty of the genocide of around 7,000 Srebrenica Bosniaks.

Drago Nikolić was sentenced to 35 years in prison, with time spent in detention counting towards the sentence. Radivoj Miletić was sentenced to 18 years in prison, a reduction of one year from the sentence decided by the Trial Chamber in 2010. Vinko Pandurević was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with time spent in detention counting towards the sentence as a rule.

Presiding Judge of the Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal, Patrick Robinson, recalled the crimes of all those accused of genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica and the atrocities they committed. He also spoke about the appeals filed by the accused.

The Trial Chamber was convinced that Beara and Popović committed genocide with genocidal intent. We concluded that Nikolić did not have genocidal intent, but he supported and assisted in the commission of genocide.

The Appeals Chamber rejected all arguments submitted by Beara. Nikolić claimed that the killings of Muslims were not committed with genocidal intent. He claims that no crime was committed against the Muslims from Žepa, and that the column was allowed to pass through the lines.

Popović disputes the Trial Chamber's conclusion that he had genocidal intent and that part of the evidence was overlooked. Beara claimed he did not have genocidal intent and that the Trial Chamber did not consider the legitimate military interest in the Srebrenica Enclave.

The Appeals Chamber concluded that the Trial Chamber made no errors.

At the time, Popović was the head of security for the Drina Corps of the VRS, and Beara held the same position in the Main Staff of this army.

Papović, Miletić, Beara, and Nikolić disputed the credibility of witnesses, which the Appeals Chamber rejected, as well as the arguments for their alibis.

The Appeals Chamber granted the appeals of Popović, Beara, and Nikolić, and it was agreed that they were not guilty of the murder of six Bosniaks near Trnovo. This refers to the murder that shocked the world after the video leaked to the public.

At 11 AM, a half-hour break was taken, so that according to Robinson, he could endure until the end.

At 11:45 AM, the Court resumed its work.

Pandurević's acquittal for participation in a joint criminal enterprise was overturned.

Furthermore, the Appeals Chamber confirmed that Miletić is responsible for situationally-conditioned killings in Potočari.