Indictment filed against seven VRS members for genocide: 65 Bosniaks from Srebrenica killed

(Patria) - Prosecutors from the Special Department for War Crimes have filed an indictment that includes the accused: 1. Vujović Ratko, aka “Rara”, born in 1967 in Bileća, 2. Vlačić Ljubomir, aka “Buba”, born in 1957 in Šekovići, 3. Pepić Vitomir, aka “Vito”, born in 1953 in Kladanj, 4. Ognjenović Milovan, born in 1952 in Šekovići, 5. Višković Goran, aka “Vjetar”, born in 1954 in Vlasenica, 6. Dupljanin Željko, aka “Krnjo”, born in 1975 in Han Pijesak, and 7. Golijanin Vlastimir, born in 1974 in Han Pijesak.

The accused are charged with participating, as commanders and members of the Military Police of the Drina Corps, Birča Brigade, and the 10th Sabotage Detachment of the Main Staff of the VRS, in the municipalities of Šekovići and Vlasenica, from July 15 to July 23, 1995, in the capture of Bosniak men and boys who, after the fall of the UN protected zone of Srebrenica, were attempting to cross into the territory under the control of the ARBiH, their detention in the Sušica prison and other facilities, as well as their binding and transport to three locations where they were executed and killed, and their bodies and remains were buried with explosive devices or removed and buried using machinery.

In the aforementioned manner, 20 victims were executed and killed at the Pola pit location (Hašimova rupa), 39 victims at the Bišina-dolina Krajevi location, and a total of 6 victims, including one woman, at the Jarovlje-Piskavica location.

The victims' bodies were found, exhumed, and identified after the war, so the identities of all 65 individuals killed at these three locations are known.

The accused are charged with knowingly assisting members of the Joint Criminal Enterprise in committing genocide against victims of Bosniak nationality after the fall of the UN protected zone of Srebrenica, thereby committing the criminal offense of genocide under Article 171, points a) and b) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The prosecution will prove the allegations of the indictment by calling approximately 130 witnesses, including 10 witnesses with protection measures, the findings and opinions of 14 experts, including international experts, and by submitting several hundred material evidence.

The indictment in this case was realized through communication and cooperation with the prosecution at the MICT. The indictment has been forwarded to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for confirmation.