Hague sentences RS general to 33 years

The Hague Tribunal has sentenced retired RS Army General Dragomir Milosevic to 33 years imprisonment. Milosevic was convicted of crimes committed against the Sarajevo civilian population in 1994 and 1995, including the shelling of the Markale market. Hague sentences RS general to 33 years Presiding Judge Patrick Robinson found him guilty of directing a bombing and sniper campaign against Sarajevo and its civilian population between August and November 1995, while in command of the Republic of Srpska (RS) Sarajevo-Romanija Corps. As the “most terrible” attack on civilians in Sarajevo, Robinson, explaining the sentence, highlighted the bombing of the Markale market on August 28, 1995, where 43 civilians perished, with over 200 injured. “The Court has concluded that it has been proved that the 120mm mortar shell that exploded in Markale market was fired from the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps positions,” said the judge. At the end of the trial in mid-October, the prosecution called for Milosevic to be given a life sentence. Defense counsel Branislav Tapuskovic called for him to be acquitted for a lack of evidence. The general was accused of crimes against humanity on four counts – murder and inhumane acts, and three counts of violating the law and the rules of war – unlawfully terrorizing civilians, and attacks on civilians between August 1994 and November 1995. He surrendered voluntarily to the Hague on December 3, 2004. In his first appearance before the Court, four days later, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Milosevic’s trial began on January 11 this year, and the prosecution rested its case in May. Dragomir Milosevic (FoNet, archive)

Hague sentences RS general to 33 years

Presiding Judge Patrick Robinson found him guilty of directing a bombing and sniper campaign against Sarajevo and its civilian population between August and November 1995, while in command of the Republic of Srpska (RS) Sarajevo-Romanija Corps.

As the “most terrible” attack on civilians in Sarajevo, Robinson, explaining the sentence, highlighted the bombing of the Markale market on August 28, 1995, where 43 civilians perished, with over 200 injured.

“The Court has concluded that it has been proved that the 120mm mortar shell that exploded in Markale market was fired from the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps positions,” said the judge.

At the end of the trial in mid-October, the prosecution called for Milošević to be given a life sentence. Defense counsel Branislav Tapušković called for him to be acquitted for a lack of evidence.

The general was accused of crimes against humanity on four counts – murder and inhumane acts, and three counts of violating the law and the rules of war – unlawfully terrorizing civilians, and attacks on civilians between August 1994 and November 1995.

He surrendered voluntarily to the Hague on December 3, 2004. In his first appearance before the Court, four days later, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Milošević’s trial began on January 11 this year, and the prosecution rested its case in May.