Karadžić files appeal against conviction

Former President of Republika Srpska Radovan Karadžić has submitted a written appeal to the Mechanism for International Tribunals against the verdict sentencing him to 40 years in prison for genocide in Srebrenica and crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a 238-page submission, Karadžić cited 48 “substantive and procedural errors by the Trial Chamber” which, in his view, led to his conviction in March this year, BIRN reported, as carried by NAP.

Karadžić argues, as stated in the submission, that a “flawed process led to an unfair outcome.”

• If not corrected, trials with errors and unfair verdicts, like mine, will only accelerate the flight of states such as South Africa and Russia from the international legal system because the system is politicized and based on double standards. This could destroy the possibility for international justice, Karadžić said in the written appeal.

The Hague Tribunal in March sentenced Karadžić to 40 years in prison, finding him guilty of genocide in Srebrenica and crimes against humanity committed against Muslims and Croats during the war in 20 municipalities, terrorizing the citizens of Sarajevo, and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.

In the part of the appeal concerning the Srebrenica genocide, Karadžić stated that “never has a more serious conviction rested on shakier ground.” According to Karadžić, the Trial Chamber’s conclusion that he participated in the killings of prisoners in Srebrenica based on an unclear intercepted conversation is “uncertain, unfounded, and incorrect.”

Karadžić also appealed the part of the verdict finding him guilty of terrorizing the citizens of Sarajevo.

In the part of the verdict finding him guilty of crimes in 20 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Karadžić complained that his statements about “political autonomy” were misinterpreted to draw a conclusion about ethnic cleansing, adding that the theory of joint criminal enterprise was wrongly applied.

Along with claims about evidence, Karadžić also appealed the procedure itself, citing 26 grounds on which he claims his rights were violated.

Karadžić also stated that his rights were violated given that the Chamber did not order Ratko Mladić to answer questions when called as a witness. Mladić is on trial for the same crimes as Karadžić, and the Hague Prosecution is currently presenting its closing arguments.

The Hague Prosecution has also filed an appeal against Karadžić’s verdict, requesting that he be found guilty of genocide committed in 1992.

Karadžić and the Hague Prosecutors will file responses to the opposing party’s appeals by the end of February. Oral arguments on the appeals are expected to be held in the spring of 2018, with a final verdict expected a year later.