Trial of Milomir Savčić for genocide in Srebrenica begins on March 23

(Patria) - The trial of Milomir Savčić, former commander of the 65th Protection Motorized Regiment of the Main Staff of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) accused of genocide in Srebrenica, begins on March 23, it was agreed at a status conference.

In a written submission, the BiH Prosecutor's Office plans to hear 97 witnesses, six of whom are under pseudonyms, as well as read five investigation records of witnesses who have since passed away. The prosecution will also hear two expert witnesses and submit 272 material evidence.

Prosecutor Predrag Tomić stated that he would need about 190 hours to present the evidence.

Presiding Judge Željka Marenić expressed hope that the Prosecution would reduce a certain number of evidence, because, as she said, it is not necessary to hear 30 witnesses on the same circumstances.

She stated that the BiH Prosecutor's Office assigned pseudonyms to witnesses without submitting proposals to the Court for the assignment of protection measures.

“You should have submitted a proposal during the investigation. You assigned pseudonyms yourselves, and the Prosecutor's Office cannot do that,” said Judge Marenić, adding that the Prosecutor's Office can contact witnesses until they take an oath in court, and afterwards only with the Court's approval.

The Court of BiH confirmed the indictment on January 13 this year, which charges Savčić with planning, commanding, and supervising the activities of his subordinates in the capture of hundreds of Bosniak men in the area of Nova Kasaba, and their illegal detention, abuse, and murder, in his capacity as commander of the 65th Protection Motorized Regiment of the Main Staff of the VRS.

According to the indictment, from July 11 to 15, 1995, in the area of Nova Kasaba, Savčić knowingly assisted other members of the joint criminal enterprise – Ratko Mladić, commander of the Main Staff of the VRS, and Ljubiša Beara, chief of security of the Main Staff of the VRS, as well as other commanders of the Drina Corps and Zvornik Brigade, and police units – in capturing and summarily executing military-age Bosniak men from the Srebrenica enclave and burying their bodies, thereby destroying them as an ethnic group in a specific area.

By a first-instance verdict of the Hague Tribunal, Mladić was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide and other crimes committed in BiH, while Beara died in prison in Berlin in 2017. He was serving a life sentence there, to which he was sentenced by the Hague Tribunal.

The reading of the indictment and the presentation of opening statements are scheduled for March 23, writes BIRN.