Convict of the Yugoslavian tribunal brought into Estonia to serve punishment

26. June 09

Today, a convoy of the Prison Service brought Milan Martić into the country. Milan Martić was the last president of the unrecognised Republic of Serbian Krajina, convicted with a judgement of the International Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia.

55 years old Martić worked in the various governmental institutions of the Krajina region that tried to separate itself from the Croatia in years 1991 to 1995. In year 1994 he won the presidential elections of the unrecognised Republic of Serbian Krajina and held that post until the Croatian forces took control of the Krajina region in year 1995.

Criminal Tribunal convicted Martić in several violations of international laws and customs of war and in various crimes against humanity, including attacks on civilians, cruel and inhumane treatment of people, murders, wanton destruction of settlements, wanton destruction of religious and educational institutions, plunder of public and private property, persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds, and deportations. The court found that Martić belonged into a criminal association together with 11 leading functionaries of the former Yugoslavia, like Radovan Karadžić, Slobodan Milošević and Ratko Mladić.

Martić voluntarily turned himself in to the Tribunal on May 15, 2002, having lived seven years under a false name before that.

On June 12, 2007 the Criminal Tribunal issued a judgement, sentencing Martić to 35 years of imprisonment, including the time spent in custody. Martić appealed against the judgement to the Appeals Chamber of the Tribunal; the Appeals Chamber left the judgement in force on October 8, 2008.

Martić will serve his punishment in Tartu, in the same conditions as all other prisoners in the Estonian custodial institutions.

According to Rein Lang, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Estonia, Milan Martić serves his punishment in Estonia on the basis of an agreement between the Government of Estonia and UNO regarding the enforcement of judgements of the Criminal Tribunal of the former Yugoslavia.

„As the Estonian nation has suffered from crimes against humanity and such crimes have been committed in the territory of Estonia as well, it is our duty to make a contribution to uncovering and condemning such crimes and to punishing the offenders,“ said Lang.

 

Valdek Laur

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