Yugoslav war crimes defendant granted provisional release by UN Tribunal

A former Yugoslav Army commander charged with murder and attacks on civilians during the 1991 siege of Dubrovnik has been granted a provisional release, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said today.

On Saturday, Pavle Strugar left the Tribunal's detention facility at The Hague and travelled to Montenegro. He must return to The Hague when his trial begins, but so far no date has been set for it.

In October, the chief prosecutor of the ICTY unsealed the 16-count indictment against Mr. Strugar and three other defendants, charging the four with individual responsibility for their roles in the campaign; Mr. Strugar and two others are also held responsible for the actions of those under their command at the time.

Among the counts, the four are alleged to have committed murder, cruel treatment and attacks on civilians, resulting in the deaths of 43 people. They are also charged with the shelling of the Old Town district of Dubrovnik, a World Cultural Heritage Site, causing the destruction of public and commercial buildings, as well as dozens of religious institutions and historical monuments.