The wartime commander of the Fifth Corps of the so-called Army of RBiH, Atif Dudačić, continues to set records as the longest-standing suspect and accused of the most severe crimes without a final verdict.
A burning political-judicial topic in BiH these days is the case against Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, who is accused of failing to comply with decisions issued by Christian Schmidt, whom Republika Srpska institutions do not recognize as the High Representative in BiH.
While the focus in BiH has been on the National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopting conclusions to delay Dodik’s court hearings until he fully recovers from recent surgery, wartime commander of the 5th Corps, Atif Dudačić, remains on indefinite sick leave—seemingly with the court’s approval.
Despite criminal charges filed in August 2006 by the then-president of Republika Srpska, Dragan Čavić, and Prime Minister Milorad Dodik against Dudačić and unidentified individuals for horrific crimes committed against Serb civilians and soldiers—documented in authentic videos recorded by Bosniak soldiers—Dudačić remains a free man, and the end of the trial against him and other defendants is nowhere in sight.
According to the indictment, Dudačić and 15 other Bosniak officers and soldiers are accused of killing more than 300 Serbs, most of whom were elderly civilians and soldiers who had surrendered or were captured. The bodies of some victims were found and exhumed from individual and mass graves after the war, while the remains of others are still being sought. These crimes occurred during the summer and fall of 1995 in Bosanski Petrovac, Ključ, Bosanska Krupa, and Sanski Most, as well as nearby villages. The charges also include persecution and destruction of religious buildings.
Part of the indictment against Dudačić concerns war crimes against Bosniak victims, particularly members and supporters of the National Defense of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia during internal Bosniak conflicts in the Cazin Krajina area, covering the municipalities of Bihać and Cazin.
Although the indictment against Dudačić was officially filed in October 2018 after a record-long 12-year investigation, there is still no verdict in sight.
The Republika Center for War Research, War Crimes, and Missing Persons states that the prolonged trial against Dudačić is unacceptable, raising serious doubts about deliberate delays in reaching a verdict.
– The process against Dudačić has been marred by numerous controversies and turned into a farce seemingly designed to drag on indefinitely. The case has faced countless obstacles, from the COVID-19 pandemic to Dudačić’s repeated health issues. We even received reports that Dudačić, allegedly unwell, appeared as a motivational speaker at various events in the Federation of BiH and was received by top Bosniak officials – said Viktor Nuždić, director of the Republika Center for War Research, War Crimes, and Missing Persons, in an interview for Srpskainfo.
He added that, at this pace and given the judiciary’s approach to Dudačić, the trial may not conclude for another 100 years.
– This insults the intelligence of everyone, especially those who lost loved ones during operations conducted by the 5th Corps of the so-called Army of BiH. It is clear that the intent is to ensure crimes against Serbs are never fully prosecuted, relying instead on time to erase accountability. Unfortunately, this is not the only case involving crimes against Serbs that is being obstructed. Trials related to crimes in Orašje, Dobrovoljačka Street, Čemerno, Jošanica, and numerous other Serb massacres have also been dragging on for years – emphasized Nuždić.
Source: Glas Srpske
