Radislav Krstic: Former Serbian General Admits Responsibility for Srebrenica Massacre
Ex-General Expresses Remorse in Public Letter and Requests Release
Radislav Krstic, a former general in the Bosnian Serb Army, has accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for his role in the Srebrenica massacre, as detailed in a public letter released by the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT) on Wednesday.
Krstic, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence after being convicted in The Hague for aiding and abetting genocide, has requested release.
In his letter seeking parole, Krstic confessed that he would vote in favor of the UN resolution on Srebrenica had he the right to vote, acknowledging the grievous crime he committed.
He also expressed a desire to honor the victims at the Potocari memorial if granted release.
Previously sentenced to 45 years for genocide in 2001 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, his sentence was reduced to 35 years on appeal in 2004.
It was the first confirmed verdict recognizing the genocide committed by the Bosnian Serb Army in Srebrenica.
Krstic admitted awareness of his forces' significant role in the executions of Bosniak prisoners between July 10 and 13, 1995, where Bosniak civilians were forcibly relocated from Potocari.
He acknowledged his partial culpability, noting that individuals perpetrating the genocide must be held accountable—recognizing himself among them.
Addressing youth in former Yugoslavia, Krstic expressed hope that such events will never reoccur, emphasizing a future without war or genocide due to religious or ethnic differences.
The Srebrenica massacre, deemed Europe's worst atrocity since World War II, occurred under UN protection in July 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces, with the inaction of UN Dutch peacekeepers, captured Srebrenica, leading to the execution of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys.
The genocide was condemned through multiple verdicts by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
From 1992 to 1995, the Bosnian War saw approximately 35,000 disappearances, with about 7,600 still missing, many from the Srebrenica area.
Serbia extradited main perpetrators Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who were charged and sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the massacre.
Over 50 individuals have been sentenced by international and national courts to more than 700 years in prison, with four receiving life sentences, for crimes against humanity and genocide involving Srebrenica.
Krstic, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence after being convicted in The Hague for aiding and abetting genocide, has requested release.
In his letter seeking parole, Krstic confessed that he would vote in favor of the UN resolution on Srebrenica had he the right to vote, acknowledging the grievous crime he committed.
He also expressed a desire to honor the victims at the Potocari memorial if granted release.
Previously sentenced to 45 years for genocide in 2001 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, his sentence was reduced to 35 years on appeal in 2004.
It was the first confirmed verdict recognizing the genocide committed by the Bosnian Serb Army in Srebrenica.
Krstic admitted awareness of his forces' significant role in the executions of Bosniak prisoners between July 10 and 13, 1995, where Bosniak civilians were forcibly relocated from Potocari.
He acknowledged his partial culpability, noting that individuals perpetrating the genocide must be held accountable—recognizing himself among them.
Addressing youth in former Yugoslavia, Krstic expressed hope that such events will never reoccur, emphasizing a future without war or genocide due to religious or ethnic differences.
The Srebrenica massacre, deemed Europe's worst atrocity since World War II, occurred under UN protection in July 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces, with the inaction of UN Dutch peacekeepers, captured Srebrenica, leading to the execution of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys.
The genocide was condemned through multiple verdicts by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
From 1992 to 1995, the Bosnian War saw approximately 35,000 disappearances, with about 7,600 still missing, many from the Srebrenica area.
Serbia extradited main perpetrators Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who were charged and sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the massacre.
Over 50 individuals have been sentenced by international and national courts to more than 700 years in prison, with four receiving life sentences, for crimes against humanity and genocide involving Srebrenica.
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