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UÇKHistory and Memory

Higher Court in Belgrade — War Crimes Department · KTRZ 4/10; K Po2 4/15

Ćuška (Toplica Miladinović et al.) — attacks on Ljubenić, Ćuška, Pavljan and Zahać

Procedural status: First-instance judgmentCrimes attributed to Serbian and Yugoslav officials and forces · The 1998–1999 war

Editorial status: Awaiting verificationDrafted from the cited sources; not yet fully reviewed by the editors.

Procedural status

From investigation to final decision. Where does the case stand today?

Path of the case

Stage 4 of 6: First instance

  1. Investigation
  2. Indictment
  3. Trial
  4. First instance
  5. Appeal
  6. Final

Stage 4 of 6: First instance

Not final

A trial chamber's decision. It can be appealed and is not final.

The judgment can be appealed.

Appeal status:According to the HLC, the Court of Appeal had not ruled by the end of 2024; no later decision was found.

Sentences imposed

7 sentenced · at first instance

  1. 01

    Toplica Miladinović

    20 years

    (first instance, 2024 retrial)

    Not final

  2. 02

    Predrag Vuković

    13 years

    (first instance)

    Not final

  3. 03

    Abdulah Sokić

    12 years

    (first instance)

    Not final

  4. 04

    Siniša Mišić

    5 years

    (first instance)

    Not final

  5. 05

    Slaviša Kastratović

    2 years

    (first instance; the court credited him with saving civilians)

    Not final

  6. 06

    Lazar Pavlović

    2 years

    (first instance)

    Not final

  7. 07

    Boban Bogićević

    2 years

    (first instance)

    Not final

A judgment concerning individuals is not automatically a judgment against a people, a war, or every member of an organization.

Outcome for each accused

Convictions(7)

  • Toplica Miladinović

    Commander of the VJ 177th Military-Territorial Detachment, Peć

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:20 years (first instance, 2024 retrial)

    Not final

  • Predrag Vuković

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:13 years (first instance)

    Not final

  • Abdulah Sokić

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:12 years (first instance)

    Not final

  • Siniša Mišić

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:5 years (first instance)

    Not final

  • Slaviša Kastratović

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:2 years (first instance; the court credited him with saving civilians)

    Not final

  • Lazar Pavlović

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:2 years (first instance)

    Not final

  • Boban Bogićević

    Member of the detachment

    Outcome:Conviction

    Sentence:2 years (first instance)

    Not final

Acquittals(2)

  • Veljko Korićanin

    Accused

    Outcome:Acquittal

    Not final

  • Milan Ivanović

    Accused

    Outcome:Acquittal

    Not final

Charges and alleged conduct

Attacks on civilians in Ljubenić (1 April 1999) and in Ćuška, Pavljan and Zahać (14 May 1999), with killings and the burning of houses.

Period covered by the charges:1 April and 14 May 1999

Charges

  • War crime against the civilian population

Procedural history

  1. Indictment

    The indictment is filed (later amended).

  2. Trial (first-instance) judgment

    The first first-instance judgment (2014), with sentences totalling 106 years; annulled on appeal in 2015.

  3. Retrial judgment

    The Higher Court in Belgrade convicts seven former members of the detachment and acquits two; a first-instance judgment.

Last verified:

Verification note:The exact date of the 2014 judgment was not verified (shown as 2014). The appeal status after 2024 was not confirmed.

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