War criminal Nebojša Pavković released on early parole

(Patria) - A Government of Serbia plane carrying convicted war criminal and former commander of the Third Army of the Yugoslav Army and Chief of the General Staff Nebojša Pavković landed in Belgrade from Finland.

Upon arrival in Belgrade, Pavković will be transported by ambulance to the Military Medical Academy (VMA), Serbian media report.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić spoke by phone with Pavković - convicted of crimes in Kosovo - before he departed for Serbia.

Pavković was granted early release from his 22-year prison sentence by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague due to his poor health.

The Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal confirmed his 22-year prison sentence in Finland in 2014 for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war, including murder, persecution, deportation, and forcible transfer.

He was convicted of severe war crimes against the civilian population during the Kosovo War.