Op. Storm general violates terms of release

Mladen Markac has broken the rules that the Hague Tribunal set for his provisional release, Croatian media report. Markac, a former Croatian Army General, is standing trial at the UN war crimes court, along with Ante Gotovina and Ivan Cermak, charged with war crimes against ethnic Serb civilians in that country, committed during the 1995 Operation Storm. Op. Storm general violates terms of release But now the media, who are closely following the story, have found out that he spent the last weekend hunting wild boars in the Bilogora Mt., accompanied by none other than Interior Minister Ivica Kirin. According to the terms of the former general's release, it is precisely the Croatian MUP that must act and arrest Markac when such violations occur. The hunting party photographs emerged over the weekend in a number of Croatia's electronic media, apparently originating from Virovitica Mayor Zdenko Koznjak's cabinet. Besides Markac, Kirin, and Koznjak, members of a war veterans' association, HVIDRA, and HDZ lawmaker Josip Djakic also took part in the hunt. Clumsy attempts to deny the authenticity of the photographs ensued, Index.hr, which ran the story, reported, including Koznjak cabinet claims that they were taken four years ago. But Markac's attorney Goran Mikulic told Index that "he wished the photos did not exist", only to later tell Croatia's state television HRT that they were four years old, and then turn to questioning the authenticity of the photographs in a statement to a third media outlet. But Index reporters immediately demonstrated that the pictures were new by publishing the ones from 2003 for comparison. Markac is under house arrest in Croatia awaiting continued trial at the Hague. The Croatian government is under obligation to arrest him immediately if he violates the terms of release by leaving his place of residence. Last year, the retired general also broke the rules by attending a birthday party, New Year celebrations and a skiing competition, but was allowed to continue enjoying provisional freedom with only a warning.

Op. Storm general violates terms of release

But now the media, who are closely following the story, have found out that he spent the last weekend hunting wild boars in the Bilogora Mt., accompanied by none other than Interior Minister Ivica Kirin.

According to the terms of the former general's release, it is precisely the Croatian MUP that must act and arrest Markač when such violations occur.

The hunting party photographs emerged over the weekend in a number of Croatia's electronic media, apparently originating from Virovitica Mayor Zdenko Kožnjak's cabinet.

Besides Markač, Kirin, and Kožnjak, members of a war veterans' association, HVIDRA, and HDZ lawmaker Josip Đakić also took part in the hunt.

Clumsy attempts to deny the authenticity of the photographs ensued, Index.hr, which ran the story, reported, including Kožnjak cabinet claims that they were taken four years ago.

But Markač's attorney Goran Mikulić told Index that "he wished the photos did not exist", only to later tell Croatia's state television HRT that they were four years old, and then turn to questioning the authenticity of the photographs in a statement to a third media outlet.

But Index reporters immediately demonstrated that the pictures were new by publishing the ones from 2003 for comparison.

Markač is under house arrest in Croatia awaiting continued trial at the Hague. The Croatian government is under obligation to arrest him immediately if he violates the terms of release by leaving his place of residence.

Last year, the retired general also broke the rules by attending a birthday party, New Year celebrations and a skiing competition, but was allowed to continue enjoying provisional freedom with only a warning.