Israel arrests Bosnian genocide suspect

18 January 2011.

YNET NEWS

ISRAEL – Aleksandar Cvetković, who immigrated to Jewish state about five years ago, suspected of
taking part in 1995 Srebrenica massacre, which left more than 1,000 of Muslims dead. State
Prosecutor's Office asks court to extradite him to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aviad Glickman

Aleksandar Cvetković, who is suspected of taking part in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in eastern
Bosnia, which left more than 1,000 Muslims, was arrested Tuesday by Israel's National Unit for the
Investigation of Serious and International Crime.

Cvetković, 43, immigrated to Israel with his wife and children in 2006 and was granted an Israeli
citizenship for being married to a Jew.

The international department at the State Prosecutor's Office appealed the Jerusalem District Court
immediately after the arrest, asking that the suspect be declared extraditable, as he is wanted for
genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The state also asked that Cvetković remain in custody until a decision is made on the extradition
process.

The Srebrenica massacre and other acts committed by the Bosnia and Serbian forces against the
Muslim population have been recognized by the international community as "genocide".

The Bosnia and Herzegovina government appealed to the State Prosecutor's Office in August, asking
that Israel extradite Cvetković for his involvement in genocide. After carefully examining the material
received from the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman decided to
begin the extradition process.

The evidence handed to the international department, which serves as a basis for the petition filed with
the court, reveals the shocking details of the massacre which took place at the Braniewo farm in July
1995.

Hundreds of handcuffed and blindfolded Bosnian residents were led into the farm in an operation
which took about 10 hours. When they got off the buses, the detainees were greeted by firing squads.

According to the information received from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cvetković took an active part in
the murder and was among the eight soldier who served as a firing squad.

The State Prosecutor's Office told the court that there were many testimonies and evidence linking
Cvetković to the farm massacre. The appeal states that should he be convicted and sentenced to a
prison sentence, he would not be entitled to serve his sentence in Israel as he was not an Israeli citizen
or residents when the crimes were committed.
The State Prosecutor's Office said that "the extradition request if part of an international legal campaign
aimed at investigating and prosecuting the masterminds, planners and executors of the genocide."