On June 28, 2001, Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Serbia known as the “Butcher of the Balkans”, was extradited to the Hague Tribunal. This followed the public announcement of an indictment for war crimes in Kosovo on May 27, 1999. He was later also charged with crimes in Croatia and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Milošević was extradited under the order of the Serbian government. He had been arrested in Belgrade on April 1, 2001, held responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people during the violent disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.
His trial began on February 12, 2002 at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The presentation of evidence regarding war crimes in Kosovo and Croatia, and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lasted until February 25, 2004. His defense case began later that year, in late August.
The trial was interrupted dozens of times due to Milosevic’s cardiovascular issues and high blood pressure.
On February 22, he stated he was too ill to continue cross-examinations, and two days later, his request to receive treatment in Russia was denied.
On March 11, at 9:30 a.m., he was found dead in his cell.
