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Novak Djukic, a former senior officer of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS), has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the indictment charging him with the shelling of Tuzla in 1995, when the city was in the United Nations’ protected zone.
“Honourable court, I plead not guilty,” Djukic told the preliminary hearing judge, adding that he had received and understood the Prosecution’s indictment.
The indictment charges Djukic, as commander of the VRS Ozren Tactical Group, with having ordered the shelling of Tuzla on May 25, 1995. The indictment alleges that one artillery projectile hit the downtown area of Tuzla, the part called Kapija, where 71 persons were killed and 240 wounded “after a fierce explosion”.
The second count in the indictment charges Djukic with having ordered the “firing of nine artillery projectiles” at Tuzla, which hit the bus station killing one person, and caused great material damage to the iron foundry and a few other buildings.
The State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) arrested Djukic on November 7 last year. He has been held in custody since then.
Djukic’s trial is due to commence within the next 90 days.
