ICTY convicts Ratko Mladić for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity

Background

Ratko Mladić was Commander of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) Main Staff from 12 May 1992 until at least 8 November 1996.

The accused was indicted for two counts of genocide; five counts of crimes against humanity; four counts of violations of the laws or customs of war. Following his failure to plea, a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf on 4 July 2011.

The trial of Ratko Mladić had begun in May 2012 at the ICTY in The Hague on charges of genocide. Despite a postponement of the trial in June 2012, the first witness took the stand in the trial on the 9 July 2012.

The defence for Ratko Mladić began on the 19 May 2014.

Further information

In the final Judgement Ratko Mladić was convicted of genocide and persecution, extermination, murder, and the inhumane act of forcible transfer in the area of Srebrenica in 1995; of persecution, extermination, murder, deportation and inhumane act of forcible transfer in municipalities throughout BiH; of murder, terror and unlawful attacks on civilians in Sarajevo; and of hostage-taking of UN personnel. He was acquitted of the charge of genocide in several municipalities in BiH in 1992.In the final Trial Judgement of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Ratko Mladić, former Commander of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) was convicted on the 22 November 2017 of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. These crimes were committed by Serb forces during the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 1992 until 1995. Ratko Mladić was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Parties had the right to appeal the judgement. The appeal proceedings, if any, would be carried out by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT).

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 23.11.17: What monsters like General Mladić can teach us about human conflict http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/11/23/what-monsters-like-general-mladic-can-teach-us-about-human-conflict/

Al Jazeera 24.11.17: Ratko Mladic's ideology lives on in Republika Srpska http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/ratko-mladic-ideology-lives-republika-srpska-171124101753453.html

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 22.11.17: For whom does justice work? The Mladić verdict and prospects for reconciliation in the Balkans http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/11/22/ratko-mladic-trial-verdict-reconciliation/

The Guardian, 24.11.17: [Opinion]: Ratko Mladić was unlucky. These days most war criminals go free https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/24/mladic-international-criminal-court-mugabe

The Conversation, 24.11.17: Ratko Mladić convicted – but justice hasn’t entirely been served in the Hague http://theconversation.com/ratko-mladic-convicted-but-justice-hasnt-entirely-been-served-in-the-hague-88094

The Conversation: Tag: Ratko Mladic https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/ratko-mladic-3020

ESO: Find further information in ESO on Ratko Mladić http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=ratko%20Mladic%20&searchOption=all

ICTY: Case Law Database: Mladić (IT-09-92) http://www.icty.org/cases/party/704/4

Deutsche Welle: Tag: Ratko Mladic http://p.dw.com/p/2oAAI

EUObserver, 22.11.17: Mladic found guilty for Bosnia genocide and war crimes https://euobserver.com/justice/139981

EurActiv, 22.11.17: Ex-Bosnian Serb commander Mladic convicted to life in prison for genocide http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/ex-bosnian-serb-commander-mladic-convicted-to-life-in-prison-for-genocide/

Politico, 22.11.17: Ratko Mladić convicted of genocide https://www.politico.eu/article/ratko-mladic-convicted-of-genocide/

Euro|Topics: Debates, November 2017: What does the verdict against Ratko Mladić mean? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/189831/what-does-the-verdict-against-ratko-mladi-mean

ECFR: Commentary, 13.12.17: Curtain comes down on Balkan Hague tribunals http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_curtain_comes_down_on_balkan_hague_tribunals

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