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UN court rejects war crimes appeal by Ratko Mladic

Former Bosnian Serb military commander was challenging 2017 conviction for genocide and crimes against humanity

Paul Peachey
Paul Peachey
London

June 08, 2021

  • English
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UN war crimes judges on Tuesday upheld the genocide conviction and life sentence of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic over the killing of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995 and other war crimes.

Mladic, 78, who led Bosnian Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-95 war, was convicted in 2017 on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including terrorising the civilian population of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo during a 43-month siege.

He was convicted by trial and ordered to serve life in prison, but appealed against the verdict and sentence.

However, appeal court judges dismissed his appeal "in its entirety", a written summary judgment said.

Lawyers for Mladic had argued that the former general could not be held responsible for possible crimes committed by his subordinates and asked for an acquittal or a retrial.

This verdict caps 25 years of trials at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, which has convicted 90 people for war crimes.

The ICTY is a predecessor of the International Criminal Court, the world's first permanent war crimes court, also seated in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The tribunal will now start looking for a host country willing to house Mladic for the remainder of his life sentence.

Fourteen European countries have taken in UN court convicts to serve out their sentences to date. Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was transferred to a British prison in May.

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Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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