Guilty of genocide: Bosnia war leader Radovan Karadzic jailed for 40 years

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been convicted of genocide and nine other charges and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He was found guilty of orchestrating Serb atrocities throughout the war in Bosnia from 1992-95. Karadzic, who spent 13 years on the run before being captured in 2008, was instrumental in the deadly 44-month siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, during which he shelled civilians to further his own ambitions, judges ruled. He was at “the apex of” the Bosnian Serb leadership and bore “individual criminal responsibility” for what happened, the judges said.

I know what I wanted, what I did, even what I dreamed of, and there is no reasonable court that would convict me

Radovan Karadzic, before the verdict

Prosecutors hold Karadzic responsible as a political leader and commander in chief of Serb forces in Bosnia, who are accused of the worst atrocities of the war. The 70-year-old insists he is innocent and says his wartime actions were intended to protect Serbs. The trial is hugely significant for the U.N. tribunal and the development of international law. Karadzic is the most senior Bosnian Serb leader to face prosecution at the court housed in a former insurance company headquarters in The Hague.

My permanent fight to preserve the peace, prevent the war and decrease the sufferings of everyone regardless of religion were an exemplary effort deserving respect rather than persecution

Radovan Karadzic

Radovan Karadzic