Witness from Subotica confused about army status: Majkić doesn't know which army he was in on May 3rd in Dobrovoljačka

By Amina Čorbo-Zećo

A new witness for the BiH Prosecutor's Office in the Dobrovoljačka case also arrived from Serbia, specifically from Subotica, where he has lived since 1994. Đurađ Majkić was a young JNA soldier in 1992, but his military service expired in March 1992, so lawyer Mirna Avdibegović asked why he was still in that army in May 1992.

"You should ask the authorities, I don't know, but it is true that my military service expired in mid-March 1992," Majkić told lawyer Mirna Avdibegović.

A little later, he said that after the exchange in May, he remained in the Army of the Serb Republic until 1994.

He also allegedly did not know that the JNA ceased to exist on April 27, 1992, so he could not answer which army he was actually in on May 3rd, when the Dobrovoljačka street incident occurred.

He stated today that at the end of April, he was sent from Lukavica by order to the Command of the Second Military District to pack things for the evacuation of the command. He recounted that on May 2nd, the Command of the Second Military District in Bistrik was attacked, and that they returned fire, and he personally did.

He said that the shooting lasted from the afternoon until late evening, and that on May 3rd, everything was calm.

"Officers told us not to be afraid, that negotiations had taken place and that we would leave the Command peacefully. The then-President Alija Izetbegović arrived, accompanied by his daughter and bodyguards. He greeted us and told us not to be afraid, that we would leave the Command peacefully," said Majkić.

In cross-examination, lawyer Lejla Čović reminded the witness of his statement from 2011, when Majkić said that "Alija was brought to the Command of the Second Military District," which the witness confirmed today, stating that Izetbegović went to General Kukanjac for negotiations and that the convoy was formed only after those negotiations were concluded.

Majkić recounted that he was in a truck at the rear, that there were 15 soldiers with him, and that they all had automatic rifles and combat kits. He confirmed that the tarpaulin was raised at the back, and that he could not see the shooting when it started, but he saw when a burst of fire was directed at a medical vehicle behind them. He pointed out that the UNPROFOR transporter was last, but they fled when the shooting started.

"They disarmed us and laid us down on the asphalt, face down. I saw out of the corner of my left eye someone ordering the vehicle to be opened. I don't know if it was locked from the inside, but then a burst of fire was shot and I saw the officer's head fall," said Majkić, adding that another female person was in that vehicle.

In 2011, Majkić said that the vehicle had military plates, and he confirmed this again today.

He recounted today that he saw one person with a cast at the time, and later learned that it was Juka Prazina.

"As they were escorting us to the gymnasium, there was commotion and various shouts. Some were saying 'kill them all,' while others were saying 'don't touch the army, young soldiers are not guilty of anything.'

The continuation of the trial in this case is scheduled for May 13, 2026.

We remind you that the BiH Prosecutor's Office and prosecutor Mladen Vukojičić (also a signatory, Milanko Kajganić) are trying to prove in the indictment against Ejup Ganić and others that Alija Izetbegović was a free man on May 3rd, and that the convoy in Dobrovoljačka was not a legitimate military target, which is contrary to the earlier stance of the Hague Prosecutor's Office.