Pavle Strugar
Encyclopedia
Pavle Strugar (born July 13, 1933 in Peć
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
) is a retired Montenegrin general in the Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA) who was found guilty of war crimes for his role in the siege of Dubrovnik
.
In October of 1991, he was made commander of the JNA's Second Operational Group which operated in southern Croatia
. In this role, he commanded the JNA's forces which laid siege to Dubrovnik, including its historic Old Town. The siege lasted until May of 1992. Strugar retired in 1993.
In 2001, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia charged Strugar on several counts. These included violations of the customs of war and attacks on the UNESCO
heritage site of the Old Town. Strugar voluntarily surrendered to the court, becoming the first Serbian or Montenegrin citizen to do so.
He was found guilty of attacks on civilians as well as being responsible for damage to the Old Town. Strugar initially appealed his sentence, but later withdrew the appeal citing poor health. In exchange, the court withdrew appeals of its own against Strugar. He was sentenced to eight years in jail.
On April 17, 2008, Strugar's sentence was reduced to seven and one half years imprisonment on compassionate grounds due to his deteriorating health. On 16 January 2009, the president of the ICTY decided to free Strugar by granting him early release.
Pec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
) is a retired Montenegrin general in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
(JNA) who was found guilty of war crimes for his role in the siege of Dubrovnik
Siege of Dubrovnik
The Siege of Dubrovnik is a term marking the battle and siege of the city of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area in Croatia as part of the Croatian War of Independence. Yugoslav People's Army invaded the Dubrovnik area in October 1991 from Montenegro, Bosnia and even parts of Croatia, surrounding...
.
In October of 1991, he was made commander of the JNA's Second Operational Group which operated in southern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. In this role, he commanded the JNA's forces which laid siege to Dubrovnik, including its historic Old Town. The siege lasted until May of 1992. Strugar retired in 1993.
In 2001, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia charged Strugar on several counts. These included violations of the customs of war and attacks on the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
heritage site of the Old Town. Strugar voluntarily surrendered to the court, becoming the first Serbian or Montenegrin citizen to do so.
He was found guilty of attacks on civilians as well as being responsible for damage to the Old Town. Strugar initially appealed his sentence, but later withdrew the appeal citing poor health. In exchange, the court withdrew appeals of its own against Strugar. He was sentenced to eight years in jail.
On April 17, 2008, Strugar's sentence was reduced to seven and one half years imprisonment on compassionate grounds due to his deteriorating health. On 16 January 2009, the president of the ICTY decided to free Strugar by granting him early release.