Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

The Hague, 14 April 2005
CVO/ MOW/ 961-e

VUJADIN POPOVIC TRANSFERRED TO ICTY DETENTION UNIT

Today, 14 April 2005, Vujadin Popovic was transferred to the Detention Unit of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He had been at large for three years.

Background

On 21 October 2002, the indictment against Vujadin Popovic was made public pursuant to an Order signed by Judge Schomburg. The indictment was originally confirmed on 26 March 2002, but subject to a non-disclosure Order.

Factual allegations

The indictment alleges that, during the attack on the Srebrenica enclave by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995, and the subsequent killings and executions of Bosnian Muslim men and boys, Vujadin Popovic was a Lieutenant Colonel and was the Assistant Commander for Security on the staff of the Drina Corps of the Bosnian Serb Army ("VRS"). He was present and on duty in the Drina Corps zone of responsibility, which included Srebrenica, Potocari, Bratunac and Zvornik, from 11 July to 31 August 1995. It is alleged that Vujadin Popovic, by virtue of his position as Assistant Commander of Security for the Drina Corps, had responsibility for dealing with Bosnian Muslim prisoners from Srebrenica from 11 July 1995 until 1 November 1995.

In the several days following the attack on Srebrenica, the VRS forces captured, detained, summarily executed, and buried over 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys from the Srebrenica enclave, and forcibly transferred the Bosnian Muslim women and children out of the enclave. According to the indictment, Vujadin Popovic committed, planned, instigated, ordered and otherwise aided and abetted in the planning, preparation and execution of the charged crimes.

It is alleged that Vujadin Popovic, together with other VRS and Ministry of the Interior ("MUP") officers and units as identified in this indictment, was a member of and knowingly participated in a Joint Criminal Enterprise, the common purpose of which was, inter alia: to forcibly transfer the women and children from the Srebrenica enclave to Kladanj on 12 July and 13 July 1995; and to capture, detain, summarily execute by firing squad, bury, and rebury thousands of Bosnian Muslim men and boys aged 16 to 60 from the Srebrenica enclave from 12 July 1995 until and about 19 July 1995. The implementation of this Joint Criminal Enterprise resulted in the summary execution of over 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys.

Charges

The indictment charges Vujadin Popovic on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute) with:

• One count of genocide (Article 4 of the Statute - genocide; alternatively, complicity to commit genocide)
  
• Four counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute – extermination; murder; persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; inhumane acts (forcible transfer))
  
• One count of violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 of the Statute - murder)

The date and time for the initial appearance will be set in due course.

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The full text of the indictment can be found in English, French and BCS

on the Tribunal’s web site at www.un.org/icty. All proceedings can also be followed on the Tribunal’s website.