Dobrovoljačka Case: Defense witness for Mladić, Karadžić, and Galić admitted receiving orders from Belgrade

(Patria) - The BiH Prosecution witness in the continuation of the trial in the Ejup Ganić and others case (Dobrovoljačka) was Ratomir Maksimović (82), previously a defense witness for war criminals Ratko Mladić, Radovan Karadžić, and Stanislav Galić before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Maksimović testified via video link from the Higher Court in Belgrade. The defense had previously objected in writing to this method of questioning witnesses without justification and without the defense's input, while Judge Darko Samardžić, responding to this defense request without allowing for further discussion, stated that it was unfounded and even preferable for witnesses to testify via video link, especially when witnesses are outside of BiH, as in this case. This is a new practice for the BiH Court, as the Prosecution had to justify its requests for witness testimony via video link until now.

To the questions of prosecutor Mladen Vukojičić, the witness confirmed that he came from Belgrade to Pale at the end of April 1992 to pick up his wife and son, who then went to Belgrade. The witness clearly returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina later, although his son and wife remained in Belgrade, and he clarified the reasons for his return during the continuation of the testimony.

"I took advantage of the JNA to transfer me to Pale, then to Lukavica, and then I went to Kukanjac in the Second Army District," said the witness.

He was in the command of the Second Military District at the beginning of May as well, and confirmed that he was aware that the Post Office building was set on fire on May 2nd and that telephone communications were interrupted.

During the questioning, he confirmed that he was aware that Alija Izetbegović was in Lukavica, and that he saw him on May 3rd in the Second Military District in Bistrik.

"There was the late Alija Izetbegović, Bakir Alispahić, and Zlatko Lagumdžija," said Maksimović, and to a further question, he stated that he did not know Alispahić, but that someone told him it was Bakir, while he recognized Lagumdžija, who told him that "everything has gone to hell".

The witness said there was no shooting at the time Izetbegović was supposed to arrive, and that the departure of the column, which the Hague Tribunal's prosecution had previously designated as a legitimate military target, was being prepared.

Maksimović confirmed that they left the command of the Second Military District armed and in uniform, but that "the weapons were positioned so they could not fire".

He confirmed that he and another woman were taken for exchange, and stayed at the Hotel Evropa until May 9th "and could not complain about the conditions".

To the question of lawyer Lejla Čović, the witness confirmed that he came to Sarajevo by order from Belgrade, and that he passed through Sarajevo with Colonel Milan Šuput and that they had weapons.

The witness further confirmed that General McKenzie was a guarantee that the JNA column would "withdraw safely" and that McKenzie, General Milutin Kukanjac, and Ejup Ganić were negotiating.

To the question of lawyer Jesenka Rešidović, the witness confirmed that he was in the command of the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps several times between 1992 and 1996. He also confirmed that he knew that fighting took place at Skenderija on May 2nd.

To the question of lawyer Senad Pizović, the witness confirmed that the forward command post was in Pale and that they are established in wartime.

"That is according to the laws of war," said the witness.

To the question of Mirna Avdibegović, lawyer for Bakir Alispahić, the witness said that he did not know what position Alispahić held and that he was not close to that person, that he was only told it was Bakir, and that he did not know who that person was.

Avdibegović asked the witness if he was aware that BiH was an independent state and that a referendum was held on March 1, 1992, which Judge Darko Samardžić also asked, and the witness, despite repeatedly avoiding the answer, finally said he was aware.

When asked if he was aware that the Assembly of Bosnian Serbs had previously adopted Strategic Goals, this witness, although a doctoral student at the Institute for History in Belgrade at the time, claimed he was not aware of it.

"Are you aware that at that moment, as of April 28, 1992, the JNA no longer exists?" asked Avdibegović.

"Yes," replied the witness, who, to a further question, clarified that the Army of Yugoslavia existed afterwards and that his superior was "Belgrade," and that the command of the Second Military District received orders from Belgrade.

At that moment, the Army of Yugoslavia was a foreign force on the territory of independent BiH, Avdibegović stated.

The witness, although he initially denied it, after being reminded of his testimony before the ICTY, confirmed that he did arm Serb volunteers because there were not enough weapons, explaining that he used his connections with the navy to obtain weapons.

Judge Darko Samardžić asked the witness if it was normal to carry weapons if it was a withdrawal.

"There is no agreement there. Everyone carries their own weapons," said the witness, while the judge added that the JNA had ceased to exist.

The next main hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2025.