Vojislav Šešelj – Trial Judgement, 31 March 2016

The trial judgement in the case of Vojislav Šešelj was given at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague on the 31 March 2016. Mr Šešelj was acquitted of all crimes.

Indictment
+ Three counts of crimes against humanity
- Persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds
- Deportation, inhumane acts (forcible transfer)

+ Six counts of violations of the laws or customs of war
- Murder
- Torture and cruel treatment
- Wanton destruction, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion or education, plunder of public or private property.

It was announced on the 6 April 2016 that prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia would appeal the acquittal of Vojislav Seselj.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Radovan Karadžić Case - Trial Judgement, 24 March 2016 / Tribunal convicts Radovan Karadžić for crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina http://www.europeansources.info/record/radovan-karadzic-case-trial-judgement-24-march-2016-tribunal-convicts-radovan-karadzic-for-crimes-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina/

ESO: Background information: Human rights: blasphemy in Pakistan; kidnapping in Iraq; war crimes in Serbia http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-human-rights-blasphemy-in-pakistan-kidnapping-in-iraq-war-crimes-in-serbia/

Politico, 31.03.16: Vojislav Šešelj acquitted of war crimes http://www.politico.eu/article/vojislav-seselj-acquitted-of-war-crimes/

BBC News, 31.03.16: Vojislav Seselj acquitted over Balkans war crimes charges http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35933468

Deutsche Welle, 30.03.16: Serbian politician Vojislav Seselj acquitted of war crimes http://dw.com/p/1IMPG

Euronews, 31.03.16: Seselj: acquitted of war crimes and crimes against humanity http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/31/seselj-verdict-expected-in-war-crimes-trial/

Balkan Insight, 31.03.16: Hague Tribunal Acquits Vojislav Seselj of War Crimes http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/vojislav-seselj-hague-tribunal-war-crimes-verdict-03-31-2016

The Guardian, 31.03.16: Serb nationalist Vojislav Šešelj acquitted of war crimes at The Hague http://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/mar/31/serb-nationalist-vojislav-seselj-acquitted-war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-icty-the-hague

Euro|Topics: Debates, March / April 2016: Serbian nationalist Šešelj acquitted http://www.eurotopics.net/en/156648/serbian-nationalist-eselj-acquitted

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 01.04.16: Will the ICTY’s acquittal of Vojislav Šešelj heighten tensions in the Balkans? http://bit.ly/1ZQbBPY

EurActiv, 04.04.16: Seselj acquitted: Balkans outraged, Belgrade conflicted http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/seselj-acquitted-outrage-in-the-balkans-mild-reaction-in-belgrade/

EUObserver, 04.04.16: Blast from the past haunts Serbia’s PM https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132894

Deutsche Welle, 06.04.16: Prosecutors to appeal acquittal of Serbian politician Vojislav Seselj in the Hague http://dw.com/p/1IQI1

Politico, 11.04.16: ‘Who knows what spark might ignite Bosnia?’ http://www.politico.eu/article/who-knows-what-spark-might-ignite-bosnia-balkans-kosovo-serbia-aleksandar-vucic/

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