Bosnia’s Prosecution has filed indictments against Atif Dudakovic, the former general in the Army of Republic Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH), and 16 other members of the 5th Corps of the RBiH Army.

“The Special Prosecutor for war crimes has filed indictments against Atif Dudakovic and 16 other members of the 5th Corps of RBiH Army charged with crimes against humanity committed in municipalities of Bosanski Petrovac, Kljuc, Bosanska Krupa, Sanski Most and war crimes against civilians in municipalities of Bihac and Cazin,” the Prosecution said.

The said group are indicted with crimes against humanity and murders of over 300 persons, the persecution and abuse of civilians and prisoners of war, as well as the destruction of 38 Orthodox temples. Among the 300 victims were mostly Serb civilians and soldiers who surrendered or were captured during combat.

Atif Dudakovic is a former RBiH Army general. During the Bosnian War (1992-1995), Dudakovic was in command of the Bihac enclave in the north-west of the country, which was surrounded and besieged from 1992 to 1995 by the Army of the Republika Srpska, the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina and Bosniak dissenters led by the Bosniak politician Fikret Abdi. During that time, Dudakovic commanded the 5th Corps.

After the war, he became the general commander of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) entity, one of two semi-autonomous entities in Bosnia. The other entity is the Republika Srpska (RS).

Part of the indictment against Atif Dudakovic refers to war crimes committed against Bosniak victims, members and supporters of the ‘People’s Defence of the Autonomous Region Western Bosnia,’ during clashes in the areas of Bihac and Cazin municipalities.

The Prosecution said they plan to prove the charges with testimonies of 447 witnesses and six experts as well as by exhibiting more than 1,100 pieces of evidence.

Dudakovic’s attorney Asim Crnalic told N1 he could not comment on the indictment because the defence did not receive it yet.

“The defence didn’t receive the indictment and I suppose the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted the indictment to the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for confirmation,” Crnalic noted. “The defence can’t know when the Court will confirm the indictment. When it does, we will then be able to comment on it.”

In late April 2018, Dudakovic was apprehended by the state special police (SIPA) on suspicion of committing war crimes against Serbs during the Bosnian war.