Mico Stanisic, a convicted war criminal, will not be released early. The decision was made by the President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Graciela Gatti Santana, in consultation with three judges.
Stanisic submitted the request on November 18th, 2024, after the war criminal served 2/3 of his 22-year prison sentence.
Stanisic, together with Stojan Zupljanin, was found guilty of persecution, murder, and torture. He participated in a joint criminal enterprise aimed at the permanent removal of Bosniaks and Croats from the territory of the planned Serbian state. His responsibility included crimes committed in 20 municipalities across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
He surrendered voluntarily and served his sentence in Poland starting in 2019. He was later temporarily transferred to The Hague on January 22nd, 2025.
In the reasoning of the decision, the Court stated that the acts for which Stanisic was convicted are among the most serious international crimes, and that his then-high position is an aggravating circumstance.
“Although he showed good behavior in prison and participated in a program against violence, he did not demonstrate genuine acceptance of responsibility. There are no clear signs of remorse, critical reflection on the acts, or a public apology. Many victim organizations oppose his release, and there is a risk of retraumatization and a sense of insecurity among victims. The health reasons are not serious enough to justify release,” the decision states.
