The International Mechanism for Criminal Courts (IMCM) again rejected the request for the early release of the former commander of the Drina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), Radislav Krstić, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for aiding the genocide in Srebrenica.
The President of the Mechanism, judge Graciela Gatti Santana, stated in her decision that she believes that his request should be rejected, even though he meets the conditions to be considered for early release.
“The extreme gravity of the crime for which he was convicted speaks strongly against the approval of early release, and Krstić has not demonstrated a degree of rehabilitation that would be commensurate with the severity of his criminal behavior,” stated Gatti Santana.
She nevertheless pointed to several important indicators of his progress towards reaching rehabilitation standards, including the fact that he publicly supported the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Remembrance for the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide, despite Serbia’s official position on that resolution.
Gatti Santana also pointed to the fact that Krstić stuck to his confession of responsibility for the crimes for which he was convicted even after the significant media attention caused by his statement from 2024.
“I would encourage Krstić to continue to reflect on the events that led to his conviction, on his actions and omissions, as well as on the impact of his behavior on the commission of the crime, and to thoroughly consider whether there is any information that he could provide, which could help national criminal proceedings or the identification of locations where the remains of missing persons are located,” stated Gatti Santana.
Krstić had previously sent a request for early release, as well as a letter in which he accepted responsibility. In the letter, Krstić praised the adoption of the Resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, which designated July 11 as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Genocide, and stated that he supports the Resolution.
“I accept the verdicts of the Tribunal from 2001 and 2004, where it is determined that the forces of the army to which I belonged committed genocide against Bosniaks in Srebrenica in July 1995, that I helped and supported the genocide by knowing that some members of the Main Staff had the intention to commit genocide,” said Krstić in the letter.
Krstić then wrote that he aided and abetted the crime against humanity by participating in a joint criminal enterprise to forcibly remove Bosniak civilians from Potočari, that he participated in the creation of the humanitarian crisis that preceded the forced transfer of women, children and the elderly from Srebrenica, as he stated, knowing that civilians were exposed to murder, rape, beatings and abuse.
He stated that he knew that the Main Staff of the VRS did not have enough forces to carry out the executions without using the forces of the Drina Corps.
“I would like to be in Potočari one more time in my life, to bow down to the victims and ask for forgiveness,” wrote Krstić, explaining that he would do so if the families of the victims allowed.
The Mechanism repeatedly rejected his requests for early release.
At the beginning of this year, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the indictment charging Krstić with a crime against humanity committed in 1992 in Novoseoci near Sokoc.
