Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac in the courtroom

On Wednesday, 23 May 2012, Judge Theodor Meron will conduct a status conference in the appellate proceedings for Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac. Such status conferences are held in line with the Tribunal’s rules once every four months, to allow the accused to present any complaints they may have regarding the conditions in the detention unit and to tell the judges about any health problems. Any pending administrative issues may be discussed. The last status conference was held on 26 January 2012.

Nine days before the status conference, on Monday 14 May 2012, there will be the appellate hearing in the Gotovina and Markac case. On 15 April 2011, former commander of the Split Military District Ante Gotovina was sentenced to 24 years in prison for crimes against Serbs during and after Operation Storm, in the summer of 1995. Mladen Markac, who commanded the Croatian special police, was sentenced to 18 years. Both accused appealed against the Trial Chamber’s judgment, contesting the judges’ findings that there was a joint criminal enterprise aimed at expelling Serb civilians from Krajina and that the accused took part in it.

The prosecution didn’t appeal against Gotovina’s and Markac’s sentences and the acquittal of the former Knin Garrison commander Ivan Cermak.

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