Balkan War Criminal Receives Seven-Year Sentence After Irish Escape
Vojislav Buzaković, a 58-year-old former member of the SAO Krajina militia, has been sentenced too seven years in prison by a Croatian court for his involvement in the abduction and torture of civilians during the Balkan Wars of the early 1990s. Buzaković, who successfully evaded capture for almost two decades while living in Ireland, was extradited last year following his arrest by Irish authorities.
The Osijek County Court found Buzaković guilty of participating in the abuse of four non-Serbian residents of Petrovci, near Vukovar. “He carried out systematic torture, which is against international law and a criminal act,” a survivors’ group stated to Croatian media, expressing disappointment with the relatively lenient sentence. The court heard testimony detailing how Buzaković and other militia members beat victims with rifle butts and batons, rendering them unconscious.
Buzaković, who emigrated to Ireland in 2005 and even obtained Irish citizenship, denied the charges. He claimed he was acting under orders, transporting villagers for interrogation, but denied any involvement in physical or psychological torture. His lawyer, Anto Nobilo, called the verdict “shameful, too drastic and made without any evidence,” describing his clientS actions as ”a couple of slaps without any injuries.” Nobilo has as appealed the decision.
“He carried out systematic torture, which is against international law and a criminal act. For more than thirty years, the accused was inaccessible to the hand of justice,”
The quote above, from a survivors’ group, highlights the frustration felt by victims and their families over the length of the sentence. The case underscores the ongoing efforts to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice, even after decades have passed.
Buzaković’s apprehension highlights the effectiveness of international cooperation in tracking down war criminals. His detection through the Schengen Data System (SIS),a European Union-wide database,led to his arrest and subsequent extradition. This case follows a similar precedent in 2014, when another alleged war criminal, Dorde Stojaković, was located and extradited from Ireland to face charges in Croatia.
A Long Road to Justice
The extradition and conviction of Buzaković represent a significant step in bringing accountability for the atrocities committed during the Balkan Wars. While the seven-year sentence has been criticized as too lenient by some, it underscores the ongoing commitment to pursuing justice for victims of war crimes, even those who have spent years evading capture.
The case also serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of conflict and the importance of international cooperation in bringing perpetrators to justice. The accomplished extradition from Ireland, a nation known for its neutrality, demonstrates the global reach of international law and the determination to hold individuals accountable for their actions, no matter how long they remain hidden.
