Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide Demands from the BiH Ministry of Justice: Register Final ICTY Judgments in BiH Criminal Records

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - We ask you to initiate the procedure within the BiH Ministry of Justice for the registration of final judgments of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia/International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts (ICTY/IRMCT), states the introductory part of the statement from the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide.

The Association sent the request for registration to the Deputy Minister of Justice of BiH, Elvir Mahmuzić.

"The Ministry of Justice of BiH decides on registration in criminal records of BiH, and we ask you to proceed with the application of your authorities and positive legal regulations governing the work of the Ministry of Justice of BiH, and to register the final judgments of the ICTY/IRMCT in the criminal records of BiH. In the latest report of the IRMCT to the UN Security Council, it was emphasized that the registration of judgments is 'a matter of crucial importance for the rule of law, stability and reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia, as well as a fundamental issue of cooperation with the Mechanism'," the statement reads.

Furthermore, the UN SC is warned that: "Today in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (emphasis on BiH and Serbia), domestic records reflect the criminal offenses of 'ordinary' criminals, but do not reflect the same for most international war criminals."

"In this regard, from the perspective of domestic legal orders, it almost gives the impression that these crimes never happened and that their perpetrators were never convicted," say the Association, adding: "The ICTY is part of the Constitution of BiH and part of the judicial system, and therefore the final judgments of the ICTY/IRMCT are part of the legal and judicial system of BiH. We hope that, in accordance with your authorities, you will grant our requests," emphasize the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide.