The International Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals has rejected a request for early release from General Dragomir Milošević, former commander of the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska, who has served two-thirds of a 29-year prison sentence for terrorizing civilians in Sarajevo.
Milošević’s request was rejected due to the gravity of the crimes for which he was convicted, as well as his failure to show sufficient signs of rehabilitation, according to a decision by Judge Graciela Gati Santana, President of the Mechanism.
“In determining the sentence, the Trial Chamber noted that all of the crimes for which Milošević was convicted were very serious and committed during a campaign of sniping and shelling over a period of 14 months, leaving the civilian population of Sarajevo with limited opportunities to escape. The Chamber took into account the indiscriminate nature of the sniping and shelling that characterized the conduct of SRK forces, which resulted in many civilians being killed or seriously injured,” the verdict against Milošević, which sentenced him to 29 years in prison for terrorizing the citizens of Sarajevo, states.
In the decision rejecting his request for early release, Judge Gati Santana, the President of the Mechanism, stated that Milošević confirmed that he was fully aware of the nature of the crimes for which he was convicted and acknowledged that the crimes were committed against the civilian population of Sarajevo, as established by the ICTY, accepted his responsibility for these crimes, and expressed regret that they were innocent victims.
However, it stated that Milošević’s “selective interpretation of his role, superficial reflections and expressions of remorse undermine his credibility in the rehabilitation process,” and that these factors call into question the sincerity of his engagement and suggest that his statements may be insincere or incomplete.
“In view of the above, I am not convinced that Milošević has truly accepted responsibility for his crimes or shown sufficient signs of critical reflection, genuine regret or compassion for the victims,” Judge Santana’s decision stated.
He had served two-thirds of his sentence in March 2024 and was therefore eligible to have his request for early release considered. He submitted his motion to the Mechanism on October 23 last year. The Mechanism explains that, in accordance with the Statute, there is only a pardon or commutation of sentence, if the President so decides based on the interests of justice and the general principles of law.
Santana recalled that previous decisions have established – as a general rule – that the sentence should be served in full, given the gravity of the crime.
The verdicts in The Hague sentenced the former political and military leaders of Republika Srpska – Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, and the former commander of the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps of the VRS, Stanislav Galić, to life imprisonment for a campaign of terror against civilians – sniper and artillery attacks.
During the 44 months of siege – from 1992 to 1995 – according to the association, more than 11,000 residents were killed, of whom around 1,600 were children. More than 30 years after the end of the war, not a single indictment has been filed against those responsible for the shelling and sniping of the citizens of Sarajevo.
