Shock and anger as Serbian ultra-nationalist is cleared of war crimes

A Serb ultra-nationalist has been cleared of war crime charges over atrocities in the 1990s Balkan wars. Vojislav Seselj was found not guilty of nine charges in a ruling which sparked outrage in Bosnia and Croatia and was seen as a major setback for U.N prosecutors. The 61-year-old, who denied any wrongdoing, was facing 28 years in prison for crimes including persecution, murder and torture but was acquitted on a majority verdict by three judges at the U.N war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Although he was seen as a moral leader for the Serb nationalist paramilitaries there was not enough evidence to link him to the crimes, the judges ruled.

After so many proceedings in which innocent Serbs were given draconian punishments, this time two honest judges showed they valued honor more than political pressure

Vojislav Seselj

The case focused on the brutal military campaigns launched by Serbian forces as they tried to claim lands in Croatia and Bosnia to carve out a “Greater Serbia”. But in their 100-page ruling, judges said the operation, which left tens of thousands dead or homeless, was a “political goal” and not a criminal plan, as prosecutors alleged. The court’s chief prosecutor, Serge Brammertz, said he would probably appeal, saying the judges had given too much credence to claims the Greater Serbia plan was a humanitarian mission. “The reading of the conflict by the trial chamber is very, very different to what we are used to,” he said.

An absolutely shocking decision. This is the lowest point of The Hague tribunal.

Lawyer and publicist Senad Pecanin

Vojislav Seselj