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The Hague, 8 March 2000
JL/ P.I.S./ 476-e
The trial of General Krstic will begin on Monday 13 March 2000
The trial of Radislav Krstic will begin on Monday 13 March 2000 at 9.30 a.m. in Courtroom I. The trial will be held before Trial Chamber I, composed of Judge Almiro Rodrigues (Portugal), Presiding, Judge Fouad Riad (Egypt) and Judge Patricia Wald (United States of America).
BACKGROUND ON THE ACCUSED
Radislav Krstic was born on 15 February 1948 in Vlasenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the indictment, Radislav Krstic was a Lieutenant Colonel in the JNA before the armed conflict erupted in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. In November 1992 he was transferred to the Drina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). From October 1994 through 12 July 1995, he was the Chief of Staff/Deputy Commander of the Drina Corps of the VRS. He was promoted to the rank of General-Major in June 1995 and assumed command of the Drina Corps on 13 July 1995. In April 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel-General.
Date of detention by SFOR: 2 December 1998 Initial appearance: 7 December 1998; 25 November 1999 (amended indictment), pleaded "not guilty" to all counts
BACKGROUND ON THE INDICTMENT
The Indictment ("Srebrenica")
The amended indictment confirmed on 27 October 1999, generally alleges that, in early July 1995, units of the VRS Drina Corps shelled the Srebrenica "safe area" and attacked Dutch manned United Nations observation posts which were located there. Forces from the "Drina Wolves", the Bratunac Brigade and other units of the VRS subsequently entered Srebrenica. Between 11 July 1995 and 18 July 1995, those forces either expelled or killed most of the members of the Bosnian Muslim population of the Srebrenica enclave. As a result of these actions, the VRS forces virtually eliminated the presence of any Bosnian Muslims in the Srebrenica enclave area, thus continuing an ethnic cleansing campaign which had begun in the spring of 1992.
CHARGES
The indictment charges Radislav Krstic on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute of the Tribunal and, or alternatively, superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3) of the Statute) with:
Genocide (Article 4 - genocide; alternatively, complicity to commit genocide),
Crimes against humanity (Article 5 - extermination; murder; persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; deportation; alternatively, inhumane acts),
Violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 - murder).
BACKGROUND ON THE PARTIES
Office of the Prosecutor: Counsel for the accused:
Mr. Mark Harmon Mr. Nenad Petrusic
Mr. Peter McClosky Mr. Tomislav Visnjic
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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