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The Hague, 8 July 2008
Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić Trial to Begin
The trial of former Bosnian Serb paramilitaries Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić is scheduled to begin with a pre-trial conference and opening statements of the Prosecution on 9 July at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom III.
The two cousins are accused of murder, torture and extermination committed against the Bosnian Muslims in eastern Bosnian town of Višegrad during the 1992-1995 conflict.
According to the indictment Milan Lukić was leader of the local “White Eagles” or “Avengers” paramilitary group, of which Sredoje Lukić was also a member. The group, together with local police and military units exacted a reign of terror on the Muslims of Višegrad.
Both are accused of personally taking part in the murder of approximately 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly men in a house on Pionirska Street in Višegrad. On 14 June 1992, the victims were barricaded in one room of the house as it was set on fire. Automatic weapons were fired at the victims who tried to escape through the windows.
In a separate incident two weeks later the accused allegedly forced about 70 Bosnian Muslim women, children and elderly in to a house in the Bikavac settlement of Višegrad, blocking all exits and throwing in several explosive devices.
Milan and Sredoje Lukić are also accused of beating Bosnian Muslim men who were detained in the detention camp at the Uzamnica military barracks in Višegrad.
Milan Lukić is separately charged with several other counts of alleged murder, including multiple murders of Bosnian Muslim men on the bank of Drina river. He is also charged with brutally murdering a Bosnian Muslim woman in the Potok neighbourhood of Višegrad.
Milan and Sredoje Lukić were initially indicted together with a close family friend, Mitar Vasiljević. He was tried at the Tribunal and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by a final judgement on 25 February 2004.
After seven years of evading justice Milan Lukić was arrested in Argentina in August 2005, his cousin Sredoje surrendered to the Bosnian Serb authorities the following month.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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