Slobodan Praljak
Encyclopedia
Slobodan Praljak is a Croatian
politician, HV and HVO
general from Bosnia and Herzegovina
. He is among six Croat politicians on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
, in relation to alleged war crimes and for allegedly ordering the destruction of the Old Bridge
in Mostar
during the Bosnian War
.
with a GPA of 4/5. He wrote his thesis there on the correction of chromatic image in the main of an electrical signal for television work. In 1971 he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy
, majoring in philosophy
and sociology
. In 1972 he graduated from the Film Academy
and began working in theater and TV. He also lectured in philosophy
and psychology
in Zagreb
. In 1991 he signed up for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and reached the rank of major general
. In 1992 he was assigned a number of roles in addition to his army post and for much of 1992-93 he wore several hats, working as:
, in relation to the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
.
In his indictment
it is alleged that Praljak as a senior military official commanded directly and indirectly the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
armed forces which committed mass war crimes against Bosnian Muslim population in around 30 municipalities in Bosnian and Herzegovina. In his role as a high ranking official in the Ministry of Defense he was closely involved in all aspects of not only the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
military planning and operations but the actions of the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
civilian police too.
Taken from the UN press release:
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
politician, HV and HVO
Croatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
general from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. He is among six Croat politicians on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
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...
, in relation to alleged war crimes and for allegedly ordering the destruction of the Old Bridge
Stari most
Stari Most is a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War...
in Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
during the Bosnian War
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...
.
Background
Slobodan Praljak has 3 university degrees. In 1970 he graduated as an electrical engineer at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in ZagrebFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb
The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing is one of the top faculties of University of Zagreb. The faculty is regarded as "the largest technical faculty and the leading educational as well as research-and-development institution in the fields of electrical engineering and computing in...
with a GPA of 4/5. He wrote his thesis there on the correction of chromatic image in the main of an electrical signal for television work. In 1971 he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb is one of the top faculties of the University of Zagreb.-History:...
, majoring in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. In 1972 he graduated from the Film Academy
Academy of Dramatic Art, University of Zagreb
The Academy of Dramatic Art is a Croatian drama and film school. It is one of the three art academies affiliated with the University of Zagreb, along with the Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Music...
and began working in theater and TV. He also lectured in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. In 1991 he signed up for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and reached the rank of 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...
. In 1992 he was assigned a number of roles in addition to his army post and for much of 1992-93 he wore several hats, working as:
- one of 14 members of the Republic of Croatia’s Council of National Defence
- member of CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , 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 ...
’s state commission for relations with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) - Assistant Minister of Defence and senior representative of the CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , 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 ...
n Ministry of Defence - representative of the CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , 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 ...
n Ministry of Defence to the Herceg-Bosna/HVOHVO- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
government and armed forces
ICTY Indictment
Slobodan Praljak is among six accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)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...
, in relation to the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
The Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia was an unrecognised entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina that existed between 1991 and 1994 during the Bosnian war. It was proclaimed on November 18, 1991 under the name Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, and claimed to be a separate or distinct "political,...
.
In his indictment
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
it is alleged that Praljak as a senior military official commanded directly and indirectly the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
armed forces which committed mass war crimes against Bosnian Muslim population in around 30 municipalities in Bosnian and Herzegovina. In his role as a high ranking official in the Ministry of Defense he was closely involved in all aspects of not only the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
military planning and operations but the actions of the Herceg-Bosna/HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
civilian police too.
Taken from the UN press release:
- nine counts of grave breaches of the Geneva conventions (wilful killing; inhuman treatment (sexual assault); unlawful deportation of a civilian; unlawful transfer of a civilian; unlawful confinement of a civilian; inhuman treatment (conditions of confinement); inhuman treatment; extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly; appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly).
- nine counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (cruel treatment (conditions of confinement); cruel treatment; unlawful labour; wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or destruction not justified by military necessity; destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion or education; plunder of public or private property; unlawful attack on civilians; unlawful infliction of terror on civilians; cruel treatment), and
- eight counts of crimes against humanity (persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; murder; rape; deportation; inhumane acts (forcible transfer); imprisonment; inhumane acts (conditions of confinement); inhumane acts).
External links
- personal website
- Second Amended Indictment - Herzeg-Bosnia case
- Profile at filmski-programi.hr