Former Yugoslav Army Commander Faces War Crimes Charges

The Karlovac Police Department in Croatia has filed a criminal complaint against a former commander of the Yugoslav People's Army's 13th Corps, accusing him of war crimes against 37 civilians killed in Saborsko in 1991. The suspect, identified through archival documents as Slobodan Dordevic, allegedly issued the order for the attack on Saborsko and surrounding communities on November 7, 1991, leading to the destruction of civilian properties and the killing of 37 civilians, including elderly men and women. The investigation found that the JNA and paramilitary forces abused and killed civilians, violating international law. The police are continuing to search for the remains of eight civilians who were killed.

Key Takeaways:

• A former Yugoslav Army commander, Slobodan Dordevic, is facing war crimes charges for the deaths of 37 civilians in Saborsko, Croatia, in 1991.
• The suspect allegedly issued the order for the attack on Saborsko and surrounding communities on November 7, 1991.
• The attack led to the destruction of civilian properties, including houses, commercial buildings, and places of worship.
• 37 civilians, including elderly men and women, were killed in the attack.
• The remains of 29 civilians have been exhumed and identified, while the search for the remains of eight others continues.
• The suspect, who is 82 and lives outside of Croatia, is accused of failing to prevent or punish the perpetrators of the crimes, despite being aware of them.
• The attack was carried out by JNA units and Serb paramilitary forces.

Statistics:

• 37 civilians were killed in the attack on Saborsko and surrounding communities in 1991.
• 29 civilian remains have been exhumed and identified, while 8 remain unaccounted for.
• The attack led to the destruction of civilian properties, including houses, commercial buildings, and places of worship.
• The suspect, Slobodan Dordevic, is 82 years old and lives outside of Croatia.
• The JNA units and Serb paramilitary forces involved in the attack violated international law.

Sources:

• Hina, August 2 (no date mentioned in the original)