The Hague tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has found Serbian ex-Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj not guilty of being complicit in crimes against humanity in Croatia and Bosnia committed by Serbian militias between 1991 and 1993. "With this acquittal on all nine counts of the indictment the arrest warrant issued by the appeals chamber is rendered moot," said Antonetti. "Vojislav Seselj is now a free man." Seselj, who was leader of the nationalist Serbian Radical Party, stood accused of inciting and financing crimes against Croat, Muslim and other non-Serb populations committed by the Serbian militias from 1991 to 1993. Justice Jean-Claude Antonetti said the militias did not directly take orders from Seselj, even though the SRP took part in recruitment. The not guilty verdict for all nine counts was passed unanimously.
His acquittal was criticised by Croatian survivors of the 1991-95 conflict.
“This acquittal leaves me speechless,” said Vesna Bosanac, the head of a hospital in Vukovar besieged by pro-Šešelj militia in 1991.
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