Which European leader listed was the first to be tried for genocide?

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that, in order for actions to be deemed genocide, there must be physical or biological destruction of a protected group and a specific intent to commit such destruction. To date, only the Srebrenica massacre has been found to be a genocide by the ICTY, a finding upheld by the ICJ.

In May 1999, Slobodan Milošević was indicted, during the Kosovo War, by the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for crimes against humanity in Kosovo. Late in 2000, charges of violating the laws of war, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions in Croatia and Bosnia, and genocide in Bosnia were also added. So, Milošević became the first European leader (a former president) to be indicted and tried for genocide, complicity in genocide, murder, etc.

The actual trial of Milošević lasted from February 2002 until his death in March 2006. He faced 66 counts of crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. On March 24, 2016 the ICTY held that there was insufficient evidence against Milošević to find him guilty of conspiring with Bosnian Serb forces to conduct an ethnic cleansing campaign (Bosnian genocide). But, the court said that "Milošević provided assistance in the form of personnel, provisions, and arms to the Bosnian Serbs during the conflict".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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21 Comments

dorod

What about Nicolae Ceausescu? He was tried for genocide in 1989, convicted and executed right after the trial. That is earlier than 1999.

Kenneth Jacobs

Richard Cyngier, no you did not miss something. This is yet another wrong answer. Ceausescu was tried for genocide in 1989, convicted and executed right after the trial.

Doris Dallaire

I think Putin should have to undergo the same accusations!

Leapy Lee

Given that the ICJ didn’t come into being until 2002, the only answer that is correct is the one given.

Stefania Angelo

Wrong, the first was Ceausescu.

Richard D. Boyle

Hitman, you need to explain your decision your decision to ignore Ceausescu. I have no doubt that your choice was carefully made.

David Ching

Compaint lodged. This person places reliance on the UN rather than the decision of the people in a country. Those who chose Ceaușescu were correct. 1989 versus 1999.

Julie Allen

Adrienne Nelson, True but wrong answer was given as correct.

Julie Allen

Wrong answer Nicolae Ceausescu was arrested on 22 December 1989. On 25 December 1989, he and his wife were put on trial before a special Military Tribunal assembled in a classroom in the military base of Tirgoviste. Nicolae Ceausescu was accused of genocide, armed attacks against the population, destruction of State buildings and institutions and undermining the national economy, by virtue of articles 356, 163, 165 and 145 of the Rumanian Criminal Code.

Johnny Rock

What a scumbag!

genevieveesquerre

Frank, Thank you!

Richard Cyngier

The Romanians were tried and executed before Milosovic. Did I miss something?

Lydia Wood

Frank, that's why I chose Ceausescu. In the the palace, soldiers found outrageous luxuries. I remember the solid gold faucet. Too bad, both he and his bride should have been tried in a court of public opinion!