Goran Jelisic's request for early release denied for the third time

(Patria) - The President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts, Graciela Gatti Santana, denied Goran Jelisic's request for early release, despite him having served two thirds of his sentence.

Jelisic was sentenced to 40 years in prison for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Her decision cited "the exceptional gravity of the crimes" and "insufficiently proven remorse and rehabilitation" as the main reasons for denying the request.

The court specifically highlighted that Jelisic had not issued a public apology to the victims nor taken concrete steps towards reconciliation, while victim associations from Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly opposed his release, warning of potential re-traumatization of survivors.

"I have not seen evidence establishing the existence of compelling humanitarian reasons that would justify overriding this negative assessment," Gatti Santana stated in the conclusion of the decision denying Jelisic's request.

The decision will be forwarded to the authorities in Belgium, where Jelisic is serving his sentence, and in Serbia, where he planned to live after potential release.

Jelisic submitted his request for early release in September last year, and it was published at the end of February 2025. In it, he stated that he was submitting the request after serving two thirds of his prison sentence.

He also stated that he is deeply aware that he was convicted of very serious criminal offenses, for which he pleaded guilty, and that the imposed prison sentence is adequate to the gravity of the committed criminal offenses.

"I regret the criminal offenses committed, I feel remorse every day towards the victims and their families, and I pray every day for them to forgive me for the pain and suffering I have caused them," Jelisic stated in his request, adding that he had strived to be the best he could be in the rehabilitation and resocialization process.

Jelisic had previously requested early release in 2017 and 2021, but the Mechanism denied them.

In October 1998, Jelisic pleaded guilty before the Hague Tribunal for multiple murders and inhumane acts committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brcko, where he served as a guard at the "Luka" camp.

These acts were qualified as crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war. He was also charged with genocide, but was not found guilty on that count.

In 2001, the Appeals Chamber of the Tribunal confirmed his sentence of 40 years in prison.