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Radomir Vukovic: Contacts in Russia

04 September 2008  The State Prosecution files a custody extension motion for Radomir Vukovic due fears the indictee might flee to Serbia or Russia.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina filed a motion, requesting the custody extension for Radomir Vukovic, who is charged with genocide in Srebrenica, because he might attempt to flee to another country should he be released. The Court will render its decision concerning this proposal at a later stage.

Vukovic, a former member of the Second Special Police Squad from Sekovici, was unavailable to Bosnian authorities for a long time. He was arrested in Serbia, as per a warrant issued by the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following his extradition to Bosnia, the State Court ordered him into a one-month custody starting in early August this year.

"The indictee has informed the Court that he does not have a registered place of residence in Bosnia. The Prosecution has been informed that the indictee's wife lives and works in Belgrade. Therefore, he does not have a motive to stay in Bosnia. Besides that he used to work in Russia, where he assumingly established contacts with local people. He probably can find a job in that country. The Prosecution believes that he might leave his family and look for a job in Russia," Prosecutor Kwai Hong Ip said.

The Prosecution said that Vukovic might "put pressure on accomplices and helpers, asking them to change their statements".

Defence attorney Radivoje Lazarevic said that the motion itself was "contradictory".

"On the one hand the Prosecutor claims that there is a danger that the indictee might try to flee to Serbia, should he be released from custody. On the other hand, he claims that, should he be at liberty, he might attempt to influence witnesses, who live in another country. The witnesses have given their statements two or three times already. It is not clear how he can change those statements. I am absolutely certain that the conditions for extending his custody have not been met," Lazarevic considers.

Vukovic addressed the Court, stressing that he returned from Russia in 2006.

"Had I felt guilty or had I done anything, I would not have come back from Russia," Vukovic said.

The indictment, which was confirmed on September 2, 2008, charges Vukovic with having participated in the murder of more than 1,000 Srebrenica residents, who were detained in the agricultural cooperative hangars in Kravica on July 13, 1995.