30 January 2004

Trial of Momcilo Krajisnik to Begin February 3
Former Bosnian Serb leader charged with genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has announced that the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik, a former Bosnian Serb political leader, will begin February 3, 2004, in The Hague.

Krajisni, who has been in custody since April 2000, is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and other war crimes allegedly committed against Bosnian Muslims and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 and 1992.

By virtue of his political leadership, Krajisnik "had de facto control and authority over the Bosnian Serb forces and Bosnian Serb political and governmental organs and their agents, who participated in the crimes alleged in the Indictment," the ICTY charges.

In October 2002, Biljana Plavsic, former president of the Republika Srpska, pleaded guilty to one count of crimes against humanity (persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds). Last February she was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.

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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The Hague
30 January 2004

Press Release

THE TRIAL OF MOMCILO KRAJISNIK TO COMMENCE ON TUESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2004

On 29 January 2004, Trial Chamber I consisting of Judges Alphons Orie, (Presiding), Amin El-Mahdi and Joaquín Martín Canivell issued an order confirming that the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik will commence on Tuesday 3 February 2004 at 3.15 p.m. in Courtroom I.

The Trial Chamber further ordered that the pre-trial conference should be held at 2.15 p.m. the same day, also in Courtroom I.

Background on the Trial:

The amended consolidated Indictment, submitted on 7 March 2002 pursuant to the Decision of the Trial Chamber dated 4 March 2002, generally alleges that, between 1 July 1991 and 30 December 1992, Momcilo Krajisnik, Biljana Plavsic and others, including Slobodan Milosevic, Zeljko Ra`natovic aka "Arkan", Radovan Karad`ic and Ratko Mladic, participated in a Joint Criminal Enterprise, in which they planned, instigated, ordered, committed or otherwise aided and abetted the planning, preparation or execution of the partial destruction of the Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croatian national, ethnical racial or religious groups, in the territories within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objective of the Joint Criminal Enterprise was primarily achieved through a manifest pattern of persecutions as alleged in the Indictment.

According to the Indictment the destruction of these groups was effected by:

- "the widespread killing of Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, including leading members of their communities, which took place during and after the attack on towns and villages in the Municipalities and the killing of Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats related to detention facilities",

- "the causing of serious bodily or mental harm to Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, including leading members of their communities, during their confinement in detention facilities",

- "the detention of Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, including leading members of their communities, in detention facilities under conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction, namely through cruel and inhuman treatment, including torture, physical and psychological abuse and sexual violence, inhumane living conditions, forced labour and the failure to provide adequate accommodation, shelter, food, water, medical care or hygienic sanitation facilities".

It is alleged that Momcilo Krajišnik held a prominent position in the Bosnian Serb leadership. He was a member of the National Security Council, the Expanded Presidency of the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", the Main Board of the Serbian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("SDS") and the Bosnian Serb Assembly, of which he was also President. By virtue of those associations, positions and memberships, he had de facto control and authority over the Bosnian Serb forces and Bosnian Serb political and governmental organs and their agents, who participated in the crimes alleged in the Indictment.

Charges

The Indictment charges the Accused on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute) and superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3) of the Statute) with:

- Two counts of genocide (Article 4 of the Statute - genocide; and/or, complicity to commit genocide),

- Five counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute - persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; extermination; murder; deportation; inhumane acts),

- One count of violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 of the Statute - murder).

On 2 October 2002, co-accused Biljana Plavsic pleaded guilty to one count of persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds, a crime against humanity. Following this, on 25 November 2002, the Trial Chamber ordered that the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik be severed from the sentencing proceedings for Biljana Plavsic. On 27 February 2003, she was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment.

The start of the trial of Momcilo Krajisnik was previously scheduled to commence on Monday 12 May 2003, but was postponed due to the Tribunal's withdrawal of his lead Defence Counsel, Mr. Deyan R. Brashich, following his temporary suspension from his bar association in the United States.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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