Karadžić, Radovan fr

Radovan Karadžić was the founding member and President of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) and President of the National Security Council of the so-called Serbian republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was a member of the Supreme Command of the armed forces of the Serbian Republic from November 1992 and was the sole President of Republika Srpska and Supreme Commander of the armed forces from 17 December 1992 until his resignation on 19 July 1996.

Karadžić has been indicted for genocide and complicity in genocide committed in numerous areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Srebrenica enclave. Karadžić is further charged with various counts of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war. According to the Amended Indictment of 28 April 2000, Karadžić was responsible for the killing of thousands of Bosnian Muslims after their captivity in several different locations in and around Srebrenica in 1995. Other alleged crimes include inhumane treatment, torture and humiliation and degradation, including physical and sexual violence committed against Bosnian Muslims, Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbs.

On 21 July 2008, Serbian authorities announced the arrest of Karadžić and on 29 July 2008, he was transferred to the Netherlands to face trial at the ICTY. His initial appearance before the Court took place on 31 July 2008. Karadžić attended the hearing without the assistance of counsel, informing the Court that he intended to represent himself. On 3 March 2009 Trial Chamber III entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ on behalf of Karadžić after he refused to enter a plea to new charges brought against him in a third amended indictment. A starting date for the trial has not yet been set.