Volunteer Savović testified in Dobrovoljačka case: He laughed at Pelemiš's threats – a zolja can't bring down a building!

By Amina Čorbo-Zećo

Slavko Savović, a native of Sarajevo, according to his own statements, today told the Court of BiH how he voluntarily reported to Viktor Bubanj barracks on April 15, and after a conversation with his neighbor Branko Kovačević (who worked in the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina), his war experience began. He was in Sarajevo his entire war, specifically in Grbavica, in the area controlled by the Army of Republika Srpska, and today he testified against Ejup Ganić and others in the Dobrovoljačka case.

"I was in Grbavica in '92, '93, and '94," said Savović, who is currently employed by the City Administration of Trebinje.

Savović now lives and works in Trebinje, and until April 1992, he lived in the Sarajevo neighborhood of Otoka, not far from the barracks where he became a volunteer of the Army of Republika Srpska. When asked by lawyer Mirna Avdibegović why he did not join the reserve force of the MUP of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Savović said that HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS HIS.

The then employee of Energoinvest also laughed in the courtroom today, recalling the incident when Lieutenant Bogoljub Pelemiš, from an armored vehicle, threatened to shoot the first skyscraper in his Otoka neighborhood. When asked by prosecutor Mladen Vukojičić why he laughed, Savović said that it was impossible to bring down a building with a zolja. Later, during the examination by lawyer Nermin Mulalić, he admitted that firing a zolja could be destructive and fatal to people staying in the apartment hit by the zolja.

Savović had served his JNA military service in a special unit in Skopje, so he was well acquainted with weapons and their effects.
Savović recalled today the lilies on the berets of the individuals who stopped the convoy in Dobrovoljačka during the relocation of the Second Military District, whereas in previous statements he had not mentioned any emblems or insignia. Today he even mentioned the Patriotic League, which he did not do in 2011 when he gave a statement in Trebinje.

He explained that on May 2nd, they received orders to proceed with armored vehicles towards the Second Military District building, with six combat vehicles, and that they saw wounded and killed soldiers in Skenderija. Savović says their unit did not participate in the fighting, and that two vehicles continued towards Bistrik, while the others had the task of collecting the wounded and killed. He said he did not know that fighting was taking place in the city center that day and that an attack on the Presidency building had begun. He says he heard about it later.

"When we arrived in front of the Second Military District, there was gunfire. They were shooting, we were responding. We parked the vehicles at the entrance. It calmed down in the afternoon. The night passed peacefully," said Savović.

He then stated that on May 3rd, information arrived that negotiations were underway with Alija Izetbegović regarding the withdrawal of personnel from the Second Military District.

"Security officer Milidrag told us to watch out for Kukanjac not to leave the barracks for negotiations, because he would leave them there," said Savović.

Then Savović said that the news arrived that an agreement had been reached, and trucks from Lukavica arrived, and the loading began.

"I saw Alija Izetbegović later. He was in the company of UNPROFOR members," stated Savović.

He then recounted that shortly after they started moving, they stopped and he heard bullets hitting the armored vehicle, and then they were ordered to get out of the vehicle.

"Corporal Simić opened the door. There were two or three shots and he fell. The rest of us left the vehicle and lay down on the floor. Then the order 'do not shoot' was heard," said Savović.

This witness told lawyer Asim Crnalić that he had not heard the order 'shoot' before, and when asked by judge Darko Samardžić how long the shooting lasted, Savović said five to 10 minutes. Savović also described how they were taken to the FIS building, where he described how a 'certain Russian' mistreated contract soldiers and volunteers.
He also said that Emir Karić, with whom he used to socialize, recognized him at FIS, and told the Russian not to touch him, and gave him cigarettes and food.

The continuation of the trial in this case is scheduled for July 10, but its holding is uncertain, as the bar associations of FBiH and RS, due to unpaid fees, have decided that non-custody cases will be held once a month.