Bosnian Tries Serb ‘White Eagles’ Fighter for Raping Prisoners

Borislav Gligorevic went on trial at the Bosnian state court in Sarajevo on Thursday, accused of raping three women from May 25 to June 2, 1992 – captives who were illegally imprisoned together with about 400 other civilians by Bosnian Serb forces in houses in the village of Liplje.

Prosecutor Eldina Biuk said in her opening statement said that witnesses will confirm that residents of Liplje were arrested and held in the houses.

“The fact that in the nine days that they were imprisoned [in the houses in Liple], around 50 women and girls were raped and 25 civilians were killed, shows what they survived,” Biuk said.

She said that Gligorevic, as a member of the White Eagles unit, which was part of the Zvornik Territorial Defence force, was aware that a widespread and systematic attack on the Bosniak civilian population was happening in the area.

The indictment alleges that Gligorevic raped one victim in the house where she was imprisoned, and when she begged him not to do it, he told her not to resist because she would be forced into it anyway – either by him or by others.

“After raping the victim… he did not allow her to leave the room and get dressed, instead he kept the victim in that room all night and raped her twice more during the night,” the indictment says.

It also alleges that another victim was raped by a soldier, and then Gligorevic raped her too, as she cried and begged him to let her go to her children.

He is further accused of raping a third woman who was repeatedly taken to nearby houses and sexually abused by other soldiers.

“All three victims recognised the accused based on the photographs,” said Biuk.

The defence did not make an opening statement at Thursday’s hearing.

Gligorevic, who is being held in custody, has said that he lives in the city of Pancevo in Serbia.

The first witness at the trial will be heard on October 20.