Kosovo war crimes convict Pavkovic is released from prison

Pavkovic, former commander of Yugoslavia's Third Army, had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for crimes against Kosovo Albanians in 1999.

Macut said that the government of Serbia that Pavkovic, “due to health causes, has been met, early release”, followed Periscope.

He added that with this <x0qt confirms that the state cares for its citizens and that it engages in human principles in international relations”.

According to Serbia's prime minister, Pavkovic will continue medical treatment in Serbia.

His release from prison had earlier warned Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Pavkovic was convicted in 2009 of all points of indictment and sentenced for deportations, forced displacement, murder and persecution of Albanian civilians from Kosovo in the first half of 1999.

Against him and other Serbian generals, in late 2003 an indictment was filed by The Hague Tribunal, while in 2005 he surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Along with him, former Yugoslav Army Chief of General Staff Dragolub Ojdanic, former Pristina Corps Commander Vadiclazarevic, Police General Sreten Luqiq and former Yugoslav Government Vice President Nikola Shainovic were sentenced.

Pavkovic and Luqic were sentenced to 22 years in prison, while Ojdanic and Lazarevic were sentenced to 15 years.

The first defendant, Slobodan Milosevic, died in custody, while former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic was acquitted.

All the accused surrendered voluntarily.

The mechanism in The Hague has so far failed to announce Pankovic's release.

In mid-August, lawyer Aleksandar Allexic delivered an urgent request for Pavkovic's early release, citing the state of health as a reason.

The International Mechanism for Criminal Court, in May 2022, had rejected Pavkovic's request for early release, due to his <x0 most important crimes and lack of rehabilitation”. /Radio Europe Free/