Dragoljub Ojdanic
Encyclopedia
Dragoljub Ojdanić (born June 1, 1941 in Ravni near Užice, Kingdom of Yugoslavia) was former Chief of the General Staff
and Defence minister of Yugoslavia. He was convicted of deportation and forcible transfers by the ICTY.
In 1958 he studied at the Yugoslav military academy and graduated in 1964.
He was deputy commander of 37 korpus, with command in Užice. He was promoted to Major General
on 20 April 1992 and he became the commander of Užice korpus. Under his command Užice korpus was deployed in military operations in eastern Bosnia during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
He served as Chief of the General Staff First Army of FRY in 1993 and 1994. Between 1994-1996 he was commander of the First Army. In 1996 he became deputy commander Chief of the General Staff. In 1998 Slobodan Milosević
placed Ojdanić as a Chief of the General Staff
of the Yugoslav army. He was also a Chief of General Staff during NATO's Operation Allied Force
.
In February 2000 after the death of defence minister Pavle Bulatović
, he was made Defence minister of Yugoslavia and promoted to General of the Army
.
On 25 April 2002 Ojdanić was transferred by the Yugoslav government to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) in The Hague
. Ojdanić was allowed to attend Milosević's funeral after his death on 11 March 2006. On 26 February 2009, the ICTY sentenced Ojdanić to 15 years in prison, following a conviction for deportation and forcible transfers. On May 27, 2009, Ojdanic’s case was appealed . Ojdanic’s co-counsel on appeal is Peter Robinson
of the United States.
Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army
The Chief of the General Staff was the chief of staff of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army. He was appointed by the President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who was the commander-in-chief.The first Chief of the General Staff was Lt...
and Defence minister of Yugoslavia. He was convicted of deportation and forcible transfers by the ICTY.
In 1958 he studied at the Yugoslav military academy and graduated in 1964.
He was deputy commander of 37 korpus, with command in Užice. He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
on 20 April 1992 and he became the commander of Užice korpus. Under his command Užice korpus was deployed in military operations in eastern Bosnia during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
.
He served as Chief of the General Staff First Army of FRY in 1993 and 1994. Between 1994-1996 he was commander of the First Army. In 1996 he became deputy commander Chief of the General Staff. In 1998 Slobodan Milosević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
placed Ojdanić as a Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army
The Chief of the General Staff was the chief of staff of the General Staff of Yugoslav People's Army. He was appointed by the President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who was the commander-in-chief.The first Chief of the General Staff was Lt...
of the Yugoslav army. He was also a Chief of General Staff during NATO's Operation Allied Force
Operation Allied Force
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
.
In February 2000 after the death of defence minister Pavle Bulatović
Pavle Bulatovic
Pavle Bulatović, was Yugoslavia's foreign minister from 1994 and later defense minister, was shot dead in Belgrade on the evening of February 7, 2000. The shooting took place at a restaurant in the suburb Banjica and Bulatovic later died at a military hospital...
, he was made Defence minister of Yugoslavia and promoted to General of the Army
General of the Army
General of the Army is a military rank used in some countries to denote a senior military leader, usually a General in command of a nation's Army. It may also be the title given to a General who commands an Army in the field....
.
On 25 April 2002 Ojdanić was transferred by the Yugoslav government to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
(ICTY) in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Ojdanić was allowed to attend Milosević's funeral after his death on 11 March 2006. On 26 February 2009, the ICTY sentenced Ojdanić to 15 years in prison, following a conviction for deportation and forcible transfers. On May 27, 2009, Ojdanic’s case was appealed . Ojdanic’s co-counsel on appeal is Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson (lawyer)
Peter Robinson is an American lawyer who has defended political and military leaders at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals...
of the United States.