Hague Grants Bosnian Serb Soldier Early Release

The Mechanism for International Tribunals, which has taken over major decisions from the Hague Tribunal as it gradually shuts down, approved the early release of Zelenovic on Tuesday after he served ten years in prison.

“Although the crimes for which Zelenovic was convicted are very grave, Zelenovic’s completion of two-thirds of his sentence, his demonstration of some rehabilitation, and his cooperation with the prosecution counsel weigh in favour of his early release,” said the Mechanism’s president, Theodor Meron.

Former Bosnian Serb soldier Zelenovic admitted in 2007 that he took part in the rape and abuse of women and girls at temporary detention centres in Foca in 1992.

The court said at the time that his crimes were “part of a pattern of sexual abuse” of Bosniak women by Serb troops in the Foca area.

He was transferred to serve his sentence in Belgium, and the time he spent in custody since his arrest in Russia in August 2005 was counted towards his sentence.

In his decision approving early release, Meron said that the Belgian government had filed a report about Zelenovic’s behaviour in prison which stated that he was a “calm inmate who respected rules, prison staff and others”.

“The report observes that Zelenovic’s attitude towards the crimes is somewhat ambivalent. According to the report, Zelenovic claims to have assumed partial responsibility for acts committed by his subordinates, whose actions he regrets,” Meron said.

“In regards to facts and evidence that directly implicate him, Zelenovic generally admits that he had various sexual relations, but regrets his inability to recalls specific facts,” he added.

The report also said that he hopes to return to Foca, where his wife and family still live.

The Mechanism for International Tribunals was established by the UN Security Council to carry out some of the essential functions of the international tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda after their mandates finish.

The remaining appeals cases and decisions on early release and other motions by defendants will now be made by the Mechanism.