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Only Two Survivors

12. November 2013.00:00
The trial of Aleksandar Cvetkovic, who is charged with genocide in Srebrenica, begins with reading of the indictment and presentation of introductory statements by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Defence.

This post is also available in: Bosnian

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Aleksandar Cvetkovic, former member of the 10th Reconnaissance Squad with the Main Headquarters of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having participated in genocide against civilians in Srebrenica in 1995.

According to the charges, in late June 1995 Cvetkovic participated in a first attack on the Srebrenica protected zone and UNPROFOR base with the aim of intimidating the Bosniak population so it would leave Srebrenica. 

Besides that, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Cvetkovic with having been member of a shooting squad, which participated in the murder of several hundreds of Bosniaks on Branjevo farm in July 1995. 

“We shall examine about 25 witnesses and expert witnesses. We will prove what the intentions were and where the 10th Reconnaissance Squad, to which indictee Aleksandar Cvetkovic belonged, was,” Prosecutor Dubravko Campara said, among other things, presenting his introductory statement.  

Also, the Prosecution will present a series of forensic reports about primary, secondary and tertiary mass graves at Branjevo. 

“At least 900 people were shot. We shall present, as witnesses, the only two victims, who survived the shooting,” Campara said.

Attorney Petko Pavlovic said that he hoped that the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina would begin filing indictments for murders of members of “the other ethnic group” in Srebrenica. 

According to Pavlovic, Cvetkovic is not guilty of any of the crimes charged upon him. He said that the allegations contained in the indictment were unfounded and incorrect. 

In his address to the Court, Cvetkovic said that he felt like Joseph K., a character from a Franc Kafka novel. 

The trial is due to continue on November 19, when protected witness C-2 will testify.

Džana Brkanić


This post is also available in: Bosnian