Serbian General Nebojša Pavković, convicted of war crimes against Kosovo Albanians, has been released from prison in Finland and has returned to Serbia, Prime Minister Gjuro Macut announced on Sunday.
Pavković, former commander of the Third Army of Yugoslavia, had been serving a 22-year prison sentence handed down by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for crimes committed during the 1999 Kosovo War. He was found guilty of deportations, forced displacements, murders, and persecution of Kosovo Albanian civilians.
Prime Minister Macut stated that Pavković was granted early release on health grounds, following Serbia’s official request. He described the decision as proof that “the state takes care of its citizens and is committed to humane principles in international relations.”
According to Macut, Pavković will continue his medical treatment in Serbia. His release had previously been hinted at by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Pavković was indicted in 2003 and surrendered to The Hague Tribunal in 2005. In 2009, he was convicted alongside several other senior Serbian officials, including:
- Dragoljub Ojdanić, Chief of the Yugoslav Army General Staff
- Vladimir Lazarević, commander of the Pristina Corps
- Sreten Lukić, Serbian police general
- Nikola Šainović, former Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia
All were found guilty of war crimes committed against civilians in Kosovo. Pavković and Lukić were sentenced to 22 years each, while Ojdanić and Lazarević received 15-year sentences.
The Hague Mechanism had previously rejected Pavković’s request for early release in May 2022, citing the serious nature of his crimes and the lack of rehabilitation. However, a new request filed in August 2025 by his lawyer, Aleksandar Aleksić, highlighted his deteriorating health condition.
With Pavković’s return, debate is expected to intensify both in Serbia and internationally regarding accountability for war crimes and the early release of convicted perpetrators.
