Decision of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the release of Dragoljub Kunarac offends victims and jeopardizes justice

(Patria) - We express the strongest condemnation and deep indignation regarding the decision of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which rejected the proposal of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to detain Dragoljub Kunarac, allowing him to defend himself from freedom in a new trial for crimes against humanity in Foča, stated the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide.

"We consider it unacceptable that a person who has already served a 28-year sentence for rape and enslavement before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and against whom a new indictment has been filed for murders and persecution of the civilian population, is released immediately after extradition.

Such a decision directly jeopardizes the dignity of surviving victims and witnesses and sends a message of insecurity to those who have been waiting for complete justice for decades.

The fact that warnings about the danger of flight have been disregarded is particularly concerning, considering the regional context and the practice of evading the execution of sentences in war crimes cases. Should an attempt to evade justice occur, responsibility for the consequences of such a decision must be subject to serious institutional review.

We call on the competent institutions to review this decision and ensure that the proceedings against Kunarac are conducted under conditions that guarantee the safety of victims and the integrity of the judicial process. Justice must not be subordinated to procedural conveniences for perpetrators of the most heinous crimes," the statement said.