Monthly News Updates: Domestic Prosecution of International Crimes - October 2020
By: Alexandrah Bakker, Junior Research Associate, PILPG-NL
This month saw prosecutions initiated in several states for international crimes. Most of these cases are in the early stages. However, the Bosnian state court convicted a former Serb Army commander for aiding genocide.
EUROPE
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosnian state court convicts former Bosnian Serb Army battalion commander for assisting in genocide
The Bosnian state court sentenced Srecko Acimovic, former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, to nine years in prison. The court found that Acimovic knowingly assisted in detaining and killing over 800 Bosniak men from Srebrenica in July 1995,. [October 16, 2020]
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Former Bosnian Serb reservist police officer on trial for crimes against humanity, pleads not guilty
Predrag Bastah, a former officer in the Public Security Station in Vlasenica, pled not guilty during his trial before the Bosnian state court for the killing of 37 Bosniak civilians. Bastah is already serving a 22-year sentence for war crimes. [October 15, 2020]
France | Reports of French court’s willingness to try Rwandan doctor or genocide and crimes against humanity
Reports suggest that Eugène Rwamucyo, accused of being a member of the war committee that planned the genocide of Tutsis in southern Rwanda, will face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity before the French Cour d’Assises. In 2007, Rwandan courts sentenced Rwamucyo in absentia to life in prison for his participation in the 1994 genocide, but the French courts refused to extradite him. [October 15, 2020]
Germany | NGOs file criminal complaint against the Syrian government for chemical weapons attacks
The Open Society Justice Initiative, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression and the Syrian Archive filed a criminal complaint with the Office of the German Federal Prosecutor for the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The complaint specifically relates to attacks using sarin in Ghouta in 2013 and in Khan Shaykhun in 2017. [October 7, 2020]
THE AMERICAS
Ecuador | Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador files lawsuit against President Moreno for crimes against humanity
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador filed a the lawsuit accusing Ecuadorian President Moreno and other officials (including the Defense Minister) of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the October 2019 protests. [October 13, 2020]