Higher Court in Belgrade Sentenced Those Accused of War Crimes in Štrpci to 25 Years in Prison

(Patria) - Three members of the "Avengers" unit were sentenced today by the Higher Court in Belgrade to a total of 25 years in prison for war crimes in Štrpci committed in 1993.

Members of the unit, which operated as part of the VRS, Gojko Lukić and Duško Vasiljević were sentenced to 10 years each, and Dragana Đekić to five years in prison.

The convicted individuals will have the time spent in custody credited towards their sentences, writes RSE.

This is a first-instance verdict in a retrial, and the Prosecution and the convicted have the right to appeal.

The process for the abduction of 20 passengers of non-Serb nationality from a train in Štrpci and their abuse, torture, and murder in Serbia has been ongoing for almost ten years, during which time two of the five accused have died in the meantime.

All the accused defended themselves from freedom during the trial.