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Radovan Karadzic
President of Republika Srpska (1992-1996)
Convicted War Criminal and Architect of Bosnian Genocide
Overview
Radovan Karadzic was the political leader of Bosnian Serbs during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). As President of Republika Srpska, he presided over a campaign of ethnic cleansing that included the Srebrenica massacre (8,372 murdered), the siege of Sarajevo (11,541 killed), concentration camps, systematic mass rape, and the forced expulsion of non-Serb populations. Convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, he is serving a life sentence.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Convicted of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre where 8,372 Bosniak men and boys were systematically executed
Directed the 1,425-day siege of Sarajevo that killed 11,541 civilians including 1,601 children
Ordered and oversaw concentration camps including Omarska, Keraterm, and Trnopolje
Directed a campaign of ethnic cleansing that forcibly expelled over 1 million non-Serb civilians
Oversaw systematic mass rape of Bosniak women as a weapon of ethnic cleansing
Issued Directive 7 in March 1995 ordering creation of unbearable conditions for Bosniaks in Srebrenica
Evaded justice for 13 years as "Dragan Dabic," an alternative medicine practitioner in Belgrade
Destroyed over 1,200 mosques and hundreds of Catholic churches as part of cultural genocide
Related Investigations (1)
Criminal Charges & Violations
3 documented violations
ICTY - Genocide (Article 4)Convicted of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre of July 1995(Genocide)
ICTY - Crimes Against Humanity (Article 5)Persecution, extermination, murder, deportation, and inhumane acts(Crimes Against Humanity)
ICTY - War Crimes (Articles 2 and 3)Murder, torture, terror, destruction of cultural/religious property, hostage-taking(War Crimes)
Known Associates & Connections
Ratko Mladic
VRS Commander who carried out Srebrenica massacre
Slobodan Milosevic
Serbian President who supported Bosnian Serb forces
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- 1945-06-19
- Birthplace
- Petnjica, Montenegro, Yugoslavia
- Also Known As
- Dragan Dabic (fugitive identity)
Education
- •University of Sarajevo - Medicine and Psychiatry
- •Columbia University - Research fellowship
Key Timeline
1945-06-19
Born in Petnjica, Montenegro
1990
Founds the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) in Bosnia
1992-04
Becomes President of Republika Srpska as Bosnian War begins
1995-03
Issues Directive 7 ordering unbearable conditions for Bosniaks in Srebrenica
1995-07-11
VRS overruns Srebrenica "safe area"; genocide of 8,372 begins
1995-07-25
Indicted by ICTY for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes
2008-07-21
Arrested in Belgrade after 13 years as fugitive
2016-03-24
Found guilty of genocide; sentenced to 40 years
2019-03-20
Appeals chamber increases sentence to life imprisonment