Former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic dies at the age of 96

Former Bosnian Serb leader Biljana Plavsic, who pleaded guilty to atrocities within the scope of crimes against humanity during the Bosnian War, died in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, at the age of 96.

According to the Bosnian Serb public broadcaster RTRS, Plavsic also served as the president of the Republika Srpska, the political structure of the Bosnian Serbs in the post-war period.

Plavsic was among the most senior figures in the Bosnian Serb political leadership during the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995.

Plavsic, who served on the Bosnian Serb leadership council during the war years, later confronted wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and began to openly oppose his policies.

AN INDICTMENT WAS PREPARED AGAINST HIM IN 2000

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia prepared an indictment against Plavsic in 2000, including charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Plavsic was accused of his role in the ethnic cleansing campaigns carried out during the creation of a separate Serbian political structure in Bosnia.

Plavsic voluntarily surrendered in 2001 and later pleaded guilty to cruelty as a crime against humanity. Other charges were withdrawn.

COURT: LEGITIMATED ETHNIC CLEANING

The court decision stated that Plavsic ignored reports of widespread ethnic cleansing practices and publicly justified these practices.

The court also noted that Plavsic was aware that Bosnian Serb leaders had failed to act despite having the opportunity to prevent crimes and punish the perpetrators.

Plavsic was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Plavsic, who completed two-thirds of his sentence, was released in 2009.

The United Nations court evaluated that Plavsic's admission of guilt and responsibility could contribute to the reconciliation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

HE PLAYED A ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON AGREEMENT

Plavsic also played an important role in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, signed in 1995 after the end of the war.

Plavsic, who served as president of the Republika Srpska after the war, was known to support the implementation of the agreement.

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had previously stated that Plavsic defended the implementation of the Dayton Agreement despite the circles opposing it.

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik published a condolence message after Plavsic's death. According to RTRS, Dodik stated that Plavsic was one of his close colleagues and argued that he should be sent off with a state ceremony.