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

The Hague, 30 November 2001
JL/P.I.S./643-e

THE TRIAL OF STANISLAV GALIC WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY 3 DECEMBER 2001

The trial of Stanislav Galic will begin on Monday 3 December 2001 at 2.15 p.m. in Courtroom III, and will be held before Trial Chamber I.

BACKGROUND ON THE ACCUSED

Stanislav Galic was born on 12 March 1943 in Goles, municipality of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the indictment, he held the rank of Major General in the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS). He assumed command of the Sarajevo Romanija Corps on or about 10 September 1992 and remained in that position until about 10 August 1994.

  • Date of detention by SFOR: 20 December 1999

  • Transfer to ICTY: 21 December 1999

  • Initial appearance: 29 December 1999, pleaded "not guilty" to all counts

 

BACKGROUND ON THE INDICTMENT

The Indictment ("Sarajevo")

Factual allegations

The indictment was filed on 26 March 1999 but remained sealed until the detention of Stanislav Galic by SFOR troops on 20 December 1999.

According to the indictment, from 1992 for 44 months, the Sarajevo Romanija Corps implemented a military strategy which used shelling and sniping to kill, maim, wound and terrorise the civilians of Sarajevo. The shelling and sniping killed and wounded thousands of civilians of both sexes and all ages, including the elderly.

The Sarajevo Romanija Corps directed shelling and sniping at civilians who were tending vegetable plots, queuing for bread, collecting water, attending funerals, shopping in markets, riding on trams, gathering wood, or simply walking with their children or friends. People were even injured and killed inside their own homes, being hit by bullets that came through the windows. The attacks on Sarajevo civilians were often unrelated to military actions and were designed to keep the inhabitants in a constant state of terror.

Charges

The indictment charges the accused on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute of the Tribunal) and superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3)) with:

  • Four counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 – murder; inhumane acts other than murder)

  • Three counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 – unlawfully inflicting terror upon civilians; attacks on civilians)

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

Office of the Prosecutor:

Mr. Mark Ierace (Senior Trial Attorney)
Mr. Michael Blaxill

Counsel for the accused:

Ms. Mara Pilipovic (Lead counsel)
Mr. Stephane Piletta Zanin (Co-Counsel)