The Appeals Court in Belgrade has upheld the acquittal of former Bosnian Serb Army Drina Corps commander Milenko Živanović, rejecting charges related to crimes committed during the events surrounding the Srebrenica genocide and making the verdict final.
The ruling has reignited criticism of Serbia’s handling of war crimes cases, with human rights organizations warning that the decision represents a serious setback for accountability and justice for victims.
Živanović had been accused of involvement in the forced displacement of Bosniak civilians from areas including Srebrenica, Žepa, Cerska and Goražde. Prosecutors alleged that on July 12, 1995, he facilitated the transportation of Bosniak women, children and elderly civilians from Srebrenica during operations that culminated in the genocide recognized by international courts.
However, Serbia’s Appeals Court concluded that prosecutors failed to prove that Živanović had ordered or participated in the forced displacement of civilians. The court also ruled that his military orders were directed against the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than aimed at expelling the civilian population.
The verdict has drawn strong condemnation from the Humanitarian Law Center, which described the decision as a “dangerous judicial precedent.” The organization warned that the court’s reasoning challenges facts that have already been established by international tribunals regarding the crimes committed in Srebrenica.
The case has renewed concerns among victims’ families and rights advocates about Serbia’s willingness to confront the legacy of wartime atrocities and deliver meaningful accountability for those responsible.
The indictment against Živanović was filed by Serbian prosecutors in 2021. Throughout the proceedings, he denied all allegations.
Živanović was later succeeded as commander of the Drina Corps by Radislav Krstić, who was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and sentenced to 35 years in prison for crimes committed in Srebrenica, becoming one of the most prominent figures convicted in connection with the genocide.
The latest ruling is likely to intensify regional debate over war crimes accountability, historical revisionism, and the pursuit of justice for the more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys murdered during the Srebrenica Genocide.
