The Hague Tribunal has rejected a request for early release by Radislav Krstić, the former commander of the Drina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for aiding and abetting genocide in Srebrenica.
Despite Krstić meeting the formal conditions for early release, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana ruled against it, citing the severity of his crimes and the lack of sufficient rehabilitation.
Acknowledgment of Genocide, but No Release
In her decision, Judge Santana noted that Krstić’s public admission of the Srebrenica genocide and his role in it was significant, especially given the rise of historical revisionism and genocide denial in the region. However, she emphasized that this acknowledgment alone was not enough to justify his release.
Krstić, now 76 years old, cited serious health issues in his request, including chronic illnesses, circulation problems, an amputated leg, anemia, and heart conditions.
Nevertheless, the tribunal found that there were no compelling humanitarian reasons to override the gravity of his crimes.
Background of the Conviction
- In April 2004, the Appeals Chamber of the ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia) sentenced Krstić to 35 years for aiding and abetting genocide, persecution, and murder of Bosniak men in Srebrenica in July 1995.
- This was the first final ruling by the ICTY establishing that the VRS had committed genocide in Srebrenica.
- Krstić was initially sentenced to 45 years in 2001, but the Appeals Chamber reduced his sentence while overturning the direct genocide conviction.
Imprisonment and Previous Attacks
Krstić was transferred to the UK in 2004 to serve his sentence but was attacked and injured by fellow inmates in a British prison. In 2013, he was moved to Poland, but after serving two-thirds of his sentence, Polish authorities were legally unable to continue detaining him. He was subsequently returned to Hague custody, where he remains.
The court has previously denied multiple requests for early release, reaffirming that the gravity of his crimes outweighs any mitigating circumstances.
