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Bosnia jails first female war crime convict

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:04:33 GMT

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

This file image shows Sarajevo apartment buildings damaged in the conflict.

A court in Bosnia has jailed the nation's first female war crimes convict. Rasema Handanović, 39, admitted six killings in the village of Trusina in 1993.

Only one other woman has been convicted of crimes relating to the 1992-5 conflict in Bosnia, Bosnian Serb ex-president Biljana Plavšić. Plavšić was jailed for eleven years by an international court in The Hague, Netherlands in 2003 and later released.

Judge Jasmina Kosović noted mitigating conditions for Handanović: She had expressed remorse for the victims, she had co-operated and given testimony for use against others in the attack, she was a war rape victim, and she had lost family in the fighting. Handanović received a five-and-one-half-years prison sentence yesterday.

Kosović noted the convict "participated with other members of her unit in the executions of three civilians and three soldiers".

Handanović, now a United States citizen whom Bosnia extradited, was part of a firing squad. The Trusina incident ultimately left eighteen civlians and four prisoners of war dead. She provided evidence against six other members of Zulfikar, a special unit within the Bosnian and Herzegovinan Army. Handanović had earlier struck a plea bargain.

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Sister links [edit]

Trusina case on Wikipedia.

Sources [edit]

Reuters. "Bosnian woman jailed for wartime murders" — The Guardian, April 30, 2012
AFP. "Muslim becomes first woman to be convicted of Bosnian war crimes" — The Telegraph, April 30, 2012
"Bosnian war crimes court jails first woman" — Reuters, April 30, 2012

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European cold spell kills hundreds

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:39:37 GMT

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Weather

Sources [edit]

"Winter Tightens Icy Grip Across Europe" — Voice of America, February 8, 2012

"Deadly Cold Snap: European Deep Freeze Refuses to Relent" — Spiegel Online, February 7, 2012

"Europe’s deadly cold snap should ease from next week, UN agency says" — UN News Service, February 7, 2012

AFP. "Deadly cold snap 'to get worse'" — The Daily Telegraph (Australia), February 4, 2012

"Europe’s homeless dying in arctic conditions" — Euronews, February 3, 2012

"Cold weather death toll passes 100 in Ukraine" — BBC News Online, February 3, 2012

Laura Smith-Spark. "Europe's cold snap claims more lives" — CNN, February 3, 2012

"Cold snap takes heavy toll in Eastern Europe" — Deutsche Welle, February 3, 2012

"Homeless facing cold all over Europe" — Euronews, February 2, 2012

External links [edit]

For the current warnings across Europe see: Meteoalarm

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Ratko Mladić said to be too ill to face trial

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:49:11 GMT

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Ratko Mladić in 1993
Image: Evstafiev Mikhail.

Ratko Mladić, a former Bosnian Serb general, is allegedly too ill to face trial for war crimes. According to his lawyer, 69-year-old Mladić will not survive to see the start of proceedings.

Concerns for the health of Mladić come despite a Serbian judge having ruled him fit for extradition to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague only last Friday, a ruling which his lawyer seeks to appeal.

“It was impossible to have a coherent conversation with him or to talk of his defence,” said lawyer Milos Saljic, after meeting with Mladić on Sunday.

	According to doctors, he doesn't need hospitalisation.
—Bruno Vekaric, Serbian deputy war crimes prosecutor

Serbian deputy war crimes prosecutor Bruno Vekaric believes Mladić is using his illness in an attempt to delay his extradition.

“He's a man who has not taken care of his health for a while, but not to the point that he cannot stand trial," says Vekaric. "According to doctors, he doesn't need hospitalisation."

Chief prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic echoed these sentiments, stating that Mladić was both well enough to make the two-hour flight to the Netherlands and is conscious of the charges against him, despite claims from family members that the former general is not lucid.

Mladić’s son, Darko Mladić, is calling for his father’s health to be reviewed by independent experts. Mladić has reportedly suffered three strokes, the last in 2008, resulting in the partial paralysis of his right side. His family has expressed concerns he will not receive adequate treatment in The Hague.

Mladić is being indicted for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, notably the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian war.

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Sources [edit]

"Lawyer: Mladic won't live to see a trial" — Seattle Post Intelligencer, May 30, 2011
"Ratko Mladic's defence: I didn't order Bosnian slaughter" — The Australian, May 30, 2011
Agence France Presse. "Mladic denies war role, thousands protest" — Capital FM Kenya, May 30, 2011
"Mladic to challenge Hague extradition" — Al Jazeera English, May 29, 2011
Emma Alberici. "Mladic ruled fit to face war crimes" — ABC News, May 28, 2011

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Ratko Mladić arrested for war crimes

Sat, 28 May 2011 17:12:18 GMT

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Politics and conflicts

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Ratko Mladić in 1993
Image: Evstafiev Mikhail.

Ratko Mladić, otherwise known as "The Butcher of Bosnia," has been arrested after being sought for over a decade. The 69-year-old former Serbian general and war crimes suspect was arrested on May 26 by Serbian special police in Lazarevo, Serbia. Mladić was accused of war crimes shortly after the 1992–1995 Bosnian War. He was wanted for genocide and crimes against humanity, including the orchestration of a massacre of over 8000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys in Srebrenica.

The arrest has prompted protests from Serbian nationalists, who herald Mladić as a national hero and patriot. However, the international reaction to Mladić's capture is more positive. French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Serbia's actions, saying it is another step for Serbia on the path to joining the European Union. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt gave similar praise, saying that the Serbia's prospects of joining the EU are "brighter than ever."

Serbia's war crimes court ruled that Mladić is fit for trial, despite claims from family and supporters to the contrary. Ratko Mladić's son Darko claims that his father is too weak to face extradition to The Hague for trial. Mladić could face extradition within a matter of days.

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Sources [edit]

Neil Buckley. "Mladic could be extradited within days" — Financial Times, May 28, 2011
Rachel Carbonell. "Mladic arrest bittersweet for Bosnian survivors" — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 28, 2011
Melissa Thompson. "Butcher of Bosnia Ratko Mladic claims he is ‘too ill’ to be extradited" — Daily Mirror, May 28, 2011
Emma Alberici. "Mladic ruled fit to face war crimes" — Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 28, 2011
Aleksandar Vasovic. "Ratko Mladic hunted for massacre to face trial" — Reuters, May 28, 2011
Dusan Stojanovic and Jovana Gec. "Mladic could be extradited as early as Monday" — Yahoo News, May 27, 2011

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Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

Sun, 15 May 2011 13:57:51 GMT

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Eurovision Song Contest

Related stories

External links

Eurovision Song Contest

The Esprit Arena, the venue for the contest

Azerbaijan has won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf, Germany. Duo Ell & Nikki, which consists of Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, won the contest with 221 points after their performence of Running Scared. This is the first time that Azerbaijan has won the contest, they first appeared in 2008. Italy took second place and Sweden finished third.

Commenting on their country's win the pair said "the one thing we want to say is, we just love you. Thank you for your support". Gasimov continued to say that he was "the happiest man in the world".

Azerbaijan received the maximum of 12 points from three countries, Russia, Turkey, and Malta.

Ukraine came fourth in the contest and fifth place went to Denmark. Switzerland came in last with 19 points. Host and last year's winner Germany finished in tenth place. Other countries that participated in the final include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Ireland, Georgia, the United Kingdom, Moldova, Slovenia, Serbia, France, Russia, Romania, Austria, Lithuania, Iceland, Finland, Hungary, Spain, and Estonia.

Two semi-final heats were held in the days before the final to determine which acts would proceed to the final. Greece and Sweden won the semi-finals with 133 and 155 points. The countries that failed to make it to the final are Malta, Armenia, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, San Marino, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, Israel, F.Y.R Macedonia, Latvia, Cyprus, and the Netherlands

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Sources [edit]

"Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final" — Eurovision, May 14, 2011
"Azerbaijan wins the Eurovision Song Contest" — BBC News Online, May 15, 2011
"Winner's Press Conference: "We want to bring Europe together"" — Eurovision.tv, May 15, 2011
"Eurovision 2011: Semifinals results revealed" — ESC Today, May 15, 2011

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Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team banned by FIFA

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:21:06 GMT

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Other stories from Bosnia and Herzegovina

1 May 2012: Bosnia jails first female war crime convict
8 February 2012: European cold spell kills hundreds
1 June 2011: Ratko Mladić said to be too ill to face trial
28 May 2011: Ratko Mladić arrested for war crimes
15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

...More articles here

Location of Bosnia and Herzegovina

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Bosnia and Herzegovina, see the Bosnia and Herzegovina Portal

FIFA headquaters Zurich, Switzerland

The national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been banned by FIFA, the sport's international governing body. The ban comes after the Bosnian Football Federation (NSBIH) rejected a demand from FIFA to change its three-man presidency to a single president. The change was rejected on Wednesday during an NSBIH meeting, causing FIFA and European football governing body UEFA to make the decision to suspend the federation.

FIFA and UEFA said in a statement that "[t]he NSBIH representative and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions as of 1 April 2011 and until the aforementioned problem is solved. This also means that, as of 1 April 2011, no NSIBH official or representative may participate in any international match or event."

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team's manager, Safet Susic, spoke out against FIFA's ruling, blaming politics for the demand not being met. He said "[t]here is absolutely no chance that the NSBIH might find a way out of the present deadlock and get the job done. These people are incapable of running the NSBIH properly, although this situation is partly a result of political orders because Bosnia is an ethnically divided country where a dysfunctional system has now caught up with football. Denying the players a chance to perform on the big stage through no fault of their own is like sending innocent people to prison."

Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently competing in the qualifying stage of the 2012 European championship. Bosnia are only five points behind group leaders France, and hold a game in hand over both Belarus and Albania. Unless FIFA's ruling is reversed, it seems unlikely that Bosnia's next game against Romania on June 3 will take place.

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Sources [edit]

"Bosnia-Hercegovina handed Fifa international ban" — BBC News Online, April 2, 2011
"Bosnia-Herzegovina given suspension" — The Press Association, April 2, 2011

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Serbia condemns 1995 Srebrenica massacre

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:05:21 GMT

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Serbia

Sources [edit]

"Serbian MPs offer apology for Srebrenica massacre" — BBCNews, 31 March 2010
Stephanie van den Berg. "Serbian parliament adopts landmark Srebrenica apology" — AFP, 31 March 2010
Reuters. "Serbia Apologizes for 1995 Massacre" — The New York Times, 31 March 2010

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Former Bosnian president arrested in London

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:57:18 GMT

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Crime and law

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Former Bosnian president Dr. Ejup Ganić was arrested by the Metropolitan Police at Heathrow Airport, London on Monday. He was attempting to leave the United Kingdom when authorities apprehended him.

Ganić was arrested on an extradition warrant issued by the Serbian government for alleged warcrimes he committed during the 1990s Balkans conflict. He is accused of involvement in a 1992 attack on a Yugoslav army convoy in Sarajevo where more than 40 people were killed.

Scotland Yard said Ganić "was arrested on behalf of the Serbian authorities under a provisional extradition warrant alleging 'conspiracy to murder with other named people and breach of the Geneva Convention, namely killing wounded soldiers...',". A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed Ganić's arrest following "a extradition request" from Serbian government.

Ganić, now 63 years old, appeared later at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he was remanded in custody for four weeks. Another court hearing will take place on March 29 when the Serbian authorities are expected to file papers to support the extradition request. Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic told the Beta news agency that her ministry would send the extradition request on Tuesday.

Ganić had been in the UK for several days, attending events at Buckingham University, which is partnered with Sarajevo School of Science and Technology where Ganić is a academic. He was also detained on Friday after arriving in London, but was released immediately as no extradition request had been received. Students at the Sarajevo university have phoned radio stations, urging Sarajevans to protest at the British embassy.

The Serbian Government had accused Ganić and eighteen others and issued warrants against them in 2009 over the May 1992 attack. He had dismissed these allegations as being "ridiculous" and said "For Serbia, anyone who defended our country must be arrested."

Damir Arnaut, political adviser to Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) president Haris Silajdžić said, "Bosnia has tried to establish correct relations with Serbia, but this political act is obviously directed against Bosnia's sovereignty." Ganić's daughter Emina accused Serbia of implicating her father "on the grounds of the evidence that already was dismissed by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague."

The Association of Detainees of Republika Srpska stated "by arresting Ganić the international community has finally understood that the time has come that war crimes committed against Bosnian Serbs be processed also."

Ganić has a PhD in Engineering Science from the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston and had lectured in two American universities. He served as both vice-president and president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina after it broke from the former Yugoslavia. The ethnic cleansing that ensued claimed more than 100,000 victims.

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Sources [edit]

"Ex-Bosnian leader arrested in UK" — Press Association, March 2, 2010
Stephen Wright and Tim Shipman. "Former Bosnian president arrested at Heathrow over alleged war crimes" — Daily Mail, March 2, 2010
Michael Thurston. "Former Bosnian leader Ganic arrested in London" — Agence France Presse, March 2, 2010

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Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić boycotts genocide trial

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:10:46 GMT

Monday, October 26, 2009

Crime and law

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Radovan Karadžić in 1994

The genocide trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić began today at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Karadžić faces 11 charges, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, which relate to the Bosnian War of the 1990s. He denies all of the charges.

Now 64, Karadžić had been in hiding for 13 years before being taken to The Hague for trial, which opened 14 years after the events to which it refers, and is expected to last until 2012. Karadžić announced on Thursday that he did not intend to attend the opening day, and it began without his presence. As he plans to defend himself, the trial could not continue.

Karadžić says he needs more time to prepare, and the trial has been adjourned until tomorrow to allow the judges to consider their options. If Karadžić fails to attend repeatedly, a defence lawyer may be assigned to him in order to allow the trial to continue in his absence.

The start date has been delayed twice, and a request by Karadžić for a further 10-month delay was rejected. He has also attempted to request that the charges be dropped on the grounds that former US mediator Richard Holbrooke offered him immunity in 1996 if he retired from public life. The court rejected this appeal.

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Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Radovan Karadžić

"Karadzic genocide trial set to open" — AFP, 26 October 2009
"Karadzic genocide trial to begin" — BBC News Online, 26 October 2009
"Bosnian Serb boycotts opening of war crimes trial" — Cape Cod Times, 26 October 2009

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Bosnian football fan's suspected killer escapes police custody

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:29:45 GMT

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Other stories from Bosnia and Herzegovina

1 May 2012: Bosnia jails first female war crime convict
8 February 2012: European cold spell kills hundreds
1 June 2011: Ratko Mladić said to be too ill to face trial
28 May 2011: Ratko Mladić arrested for war crimes
15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

...More articles here

Location of Bosnia and Herzegovina

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Bosnia and Herzegovina, see the Bosnia and Herzegovina Portal

Oliver Knezovic, who is suspected of killing a Bosnia and Herzegovinan football club fan in the southwest town of Siroki Brijeg, has escaped from the custody of judicial police, local media reported on Tuesday.

Police have launched an investigation and the officers responsible for Knezovic have been suspended. Media reports suggest he fled to Croatia.

The president of the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Amir Jagnjac, said that Knezovic escaped at around midnight on Tuesday from the custody of police. He said that the officers who were on duty when Knezovic made his escape have been suspended.

Sarajevo resident Vedran Puljic, aged 24, was killed by a gunshot on Sunday in clashes that broke out as soon as fans of the Sarajevo team arrived in Siroki Brijeg to watch the game against the local football squad.

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Sources [edit]

This article is based on Bosnian football fan's suspected killer escapes by Southeast European Times, which freely, or compatibly, licenses their original content.

"VIDEO: Oliver Knezovic escaped judicial police" — Javno, October 6, 2009

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European Parliament committee backs visa-free travel for Balkan countries

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:11:29 GMT

Friday, October 9, 2009

European Union

Sources [edit]

This article is based on EP committee backs visa-free travel for Balkan countries by Southeast European Times, which freely, or compatibly, licenses their original content.

"Visa decision expected in November" — B92, October 8, 2009

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Bosnian war criminal sent to UK

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:04:07 GMT

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Other stories from Bosnia and Herzegovina

1 May 2012: Bosnia jails first female war crime convict
8 February 2012: European cold spell kills hundreds
1 June 2011: Ratko Mladić said to be too ill to face trial
28 May 2011: Ratko Mladić arrested for war crimes
15 May 2011: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

...More articles here

Location of Bosnia and Herzegovina

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Bosnia and Herzegovina, see the Bosnia and Herzegovina Portal

A former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of war crimes has been sent to the United Kingdom to serve out the remaining years of his sentence. Momcilo Krajišnik is one of the highest-ranking officials convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Krajišnik held important positions in the run up to and during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which raged from 1992–95. He sat on the nationalist Serbian Democratic Party's Main Board, was in the National Security Council and was the head of the Bosnian Serb Assembly. He used these positions to try and purge non-Serbs from occupied territories.

He received a 27-year sentence in 2006 but this was reduced after an appeals court quashed convictions for murder, extermination and persecution. He remains convicted of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and persecution, charges totaling eleven offences.

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Sources [edit]

Press Release: "UN tribunal transfers former Bosnian Serb leader to UK prison" — United Nations, September 8, 2009
"Bosnian war criminal in UK jail" — BBC News Online, September 8, 2009

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Peacekeeping helicopter crash kills four in Bosnia

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:20:52 GMT

Friday, June 20, 2008

A German military helicopter of the model lost in the accident

A European Union peacekeeping helicopter crashed near Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday, killing the four servicemen on board. Two were German and two were Spanish.

The helicopter belonged to Spain and was deployed as part of the EUFOR peacekeeping mission, which Spain and Germany have 250 and 130 soldiers engaged in respectively. It was a German-built Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BO-105. Spain's defence ministry named the deceased Spaniards as Lieutenant Santiago Hormigo Ledesma and Sergeant Joaquin Lopez Moreno. The Germans have not been named.

The cause of the accident is unknown, but the crash was witnessed by a second military helicopter in the area at the time. They reported seeing smoke from the helicopter but little else because the mountainous and forested terrain impeded their view. It is also known that the aircraft departed Sarajevo on a routine flight and crashed half an hour later after issueing a distress call. An investigation is ongoing.

The bodies were recovered today. The Spaniards were flown home on a C-130 military transport plane, after a short ceremony in which a Spanish general placed medals upon the coffins in the presence of the Spanish ambassador and EUFOR officials.

A EUFOR spokesman said the bodies of the Germans will probably be flown home on Monday.

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Sources [edit]

"Bodies of 2 Spanish peacekeepers killed in Bosnian helicopter crash transported to Spain" — International Herald Tribune, June 20, 2008
"Four EU Peacekeepers Killed in Bosnia Chopper Crash" — Deutsche Welle, June 19, 2008

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Dima Bilan wins the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest for Russia

Sun, 25 May 2008 12:56:47 GMT

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Russia

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Dima Bilan has won the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, the 53rd, for Russia with his song Believe. The song was developed by US R&B artist Timbaland. The song won the competition with 272 points; 42 points ahead of Ukraine's Ani Lorak in second place with 230 points for the song Shady Lady. Third was Kalomira for Greece with Secret Combination The voting for the competition came from 43 countries across Europe, but with 25 countries competing, the others having failed to get through the semi finals. Russia has never won the contest before, Bilan having come second in 2006, losing out to Finnish hard rock band Lordi with Hard Rock Halellujah.

Dima Bilan (centre) performing in the first semi final of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest
Image: Daniel Aragay.

Furtherdown the scale Germany's No Angels with Disapear, Poland's Isis Gee with For Life and the United Kingdom's Andy Abraham with Even If came joint last with 14 points. Fourth last was Teräsbetoni, a Finnish heavy metal band performing in their native language with Missä Mihet Ratsastaa (Where Men Ride). Sweden's Charlotte Perrelli had been predicted to repeat her 1999 victory, this time with Hero, but also received a low score.

There was an estimated 100 million television viewers from across Europe.

UK commentator Terry Wogan has garnered significant media attention for criticising the contest live towards the end of the broadcast for being overly political. "It's a disappointment, considering that Andy Abraham gave, I think, the performance of his life with a song that certainly deserved more marks than it got when you look at the points that Spain got, that Bosnia-Herzegovina got - some really ridiculous songs," he said. "You have to say that this is no longer a music contest... I have to decide whether we (himself and his producer, who already announced he wanted to leave) want to do this again. Western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in, because their prospects are poor." He called the contest "political".

Spain was represented by Rodolfo Chikilicuatre with Baila el Chiki Chiki (Dance the Chiki Chiki) and Bosnia and Herzegovina by Elvir Laković Laka with Pokušaj (try).

Bilan, who received the maximum 12 points from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, all of which are former Soviet countries, was sent a telegram from Putin to congratulate him after his victory. Mevedev also contacted him later by phone to congratulate him. "Russia is the favorite now, it's just tearing everybody up — in basketball, football, hockey, and Eurovision!" commented champion figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, who had joined Bilan onstage to skate as part of the winning performance. He is now also a politician.

Next year's contest will be held in Russia.

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Wikipedia has more about this subject:

Eurovision 2008

"Medvedev, Putin congratulate Bilan on Eurovision win: "One more triumph for all Russia"" — International Herald Tribune, May 25, 2008
"UK land at dismal last place in Eurovision as Wogan warns he may quit 'political' contest" — Daily Mail, May 25, 2008
"TERÄSBETONI Places 22nd In EUROVISION Finals" — Blabbermouth.net, May 25, 2008
"Russia scoops Eurovision victory" — BBC News Online, May 24, 2008
"Sweden tipped to win Eurovision" — BBC News Online, May 20, 2008

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