Belgrade Court Overturns Jurisic Verdict

The court issued its ruling today and released Jurisic from custody.

 Jurisic was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in September 2009 by the War Crimes Chamber of the District Court in Belgrade for ordering an attack on a convoy of soldiers from the Yugoslav National Army, JNA, on May 15, 1992.

Following the ruling in 2009, both the prosecution and the defence filed appeals. The prosecution asked the court to hand down a longer sentence, while the defence sought Jurisic’s release “due to lack of evidence”.

 The case has been the source of tension between the Serbian and Bosnian governments. The incident for which Jurisic is charged is a hot issue, as it refers to Serbia’s role in the Bosnian war, and Jurisic has had the support of several members of the central government in Bosnia.

 The Bosnian State Ministry for Human Rights, in an official announcement, called the original verdict illegal, arguing that Jurisic’s basic human rights were violated.

 Serbian Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric refused to comment on the court’s decision, but said the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office is only seeking an answer to the question of who was responsible for killing dozens of JNA soldiers in May 1992.

Jurisic was sentenced in 2009 for having issued “a first-hand” order, in his capacity as the duty chief of the Operational Headquarters of the Safety Services Centre, for the attack on the JNA Brigade as it withdrew from the Husinjska Buna military barracks in Tuzla.

The defence argues that the JNA forces, who were withdrawing with ammunition and weapons, were the first to fire, and that Bosnian forces returned fire in defence. The defence also contends that Jurisic did not issue the order to fire but repeated an order issued by a senior officer.

 Jurisic is seen as a hero of Tuzla’s defence during the war, and he is expected to return to the city today, where Tuzla residents have reportedly planned a welcome rally.

B.B.