Closing arguments begin in Ratko Mladić trial

The presentation of closing arguments in the trial of Ratko Mladić, former commander of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska, is scheduled for today, December 5, from 9:30 to 14:15 in Courtroom I, Patria reports.

The prosecution will present its closing arguments first, from Monday, December 5, through Wednesday, December 7. This will be followed by the defense's arguments starting Friday, December 9, and continuing into the following week, on Monday, December 12, and Tuesday, December 13. Both sides will have one and a half hours each for rebuttal and surrebuttal on Thursday, December 15, the Hague Tribunal announced.

Ratko Mladić is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the laws and customs of war committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina from May 1992 to the end of 1995.

The initial indictment was issued on July 25, 1995. After nearly 16 years on the run, he was arrested on May 26, 2011, in Serbia and transferred to the International Tribunal on May 31, 2011. The trial began on May 16, 2012. During the trial, 377 witnesses testified in court – the prosecution called 169 witnesses, while the defense called 208.

Since its establishment, the International Tribunal has indicted 161 individuals for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2001. Proceedings have been concluded against 154 individuals.