Genocide Suspect Tolimir in ICTY Custody

Today, genocide suspect Zdravko Tolimir was placed into custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY (ICTY press release). Tolimir used to be a close ally of former Bosnian Serb military chief and key figure Ratko Mladic. Tolimir is inter alia charged with genocide for his involvement in the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. Tolimir was arrested in a joint effort by Bosnian Serb and Serbian police while crossing the Bosnian-Serb border. This is the first time that Bosnian Serb police arrests a fugitive wanted by the ICTY. AFP and Jurist have further information on this arrest.

Whether this arrest marks a change in Bosnia Serb attitude towards the ICTY remains to be seen. In any case, under international law, Bosnia Serb police has a duty to cooperate with the ICTY ... It still has the opportunity to fulfill this duty by arresting Mladic, Karadžic et al.