Orić and Duraković Expect Verdict for Genocide in Seven Municipalities

The Trial Chamber of the Hague Tribunal will deliver today a first-instance verdict for Radovan Karadžić, former President of Republika Srpska, who is charged with genocide and crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports the Patria news agency.

Nearly 21 years have passed since the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) filed the initial indictment for war crimes against Radovan Karadžić (born 1945), former President of Republika Srpska, with the final verdict scheduled for March 24, 2016. The indictment against Karadžić was filed on July 25, 1995; he arrived in the custody of the International Tribunal on July 30, 2008, after spending more than 13 years evading arrest, and the trial, which would last five years, began on October 26, 2009.

In addition to the existing indictment for genocide in Srebrenica, in mid-2013 the Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal decided that Radovan Karadžić would be retried for genocide in seven municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina committed in 1992 against Bosniaks and Croats. Today we could also receive official confirmation that genocide was also committed in the municipalities of Bratunac, Foča, Ključ, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Vlasenica, and Zvornik.

Ćamil Duraković, Mayor of Srebrenica and a victim of Karadžić's policies, said while appearing on FACE TV that he expects the maximum sentence, but fears the part related to politics.

- Obviously, the whole world is following this and a disgrace should not happen. Regardless of what will happen, I am sorry about the situation where convicted criminals are glorified, and posters praising Karadžić have appeared across the RS. As citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we know what happened in Foča and elsewhere, and I cannot imagine that he will not be convicted for that as well. But I fear that global politics, but I am a legalist and I believe in law and justice – Duraković emphasized.

Naser Orić, former commander of the ARBiH, highlighted the importance of the verdict for history.

- The verdict itself is good for history, to know who did what. However, if we now measure and enter into the verdict and it influences and socializes disobedient politicians, I think we have achieved nothing in that field – Orić emphasized.