International Criminal Tribunal Announces Transfer and Arrest of Key Suspects

September 29, 2005 -- The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia reported this month that Sredoje Lukic had been transferred to the Tribunal’s detention unit from Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lukic had been at large for almost seven years after being indicted in 1998.

Lukic was indicted for a range of crimes, including murder, torture, assault, looting and the destruction of property committed against the local Muslim population in and around the Visegrad municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Specifically, the indictment charges Lukic on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility with seven counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute – extermination; persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; murder; inhumane acts) and five counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 of the Statute – murder; violence to life and person; cruel treatment).

Also this month, ICTY announced that Dragan Zelenovic had been arrested by Russian authorities. Zelenovic, who had been at large for more than nine years, was originally indicted in June 1996. According to the indictment, Dragan Zelenovic is charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity and seven counts of violations of the laws or customs of war.

As sub-commander of the military police and a paramilitary leader in Foca, south-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zelenovic was charged in the indictment with multiple cases of rape individually, as well as for organizing and participating in gang rape and for the removal of women to locations to be sexually assaulted and tortured. Click here for more details about the indictment.

Last updated September 29, 2005

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