U.S. extradites Bosnian prison guard to face war-crimes charges
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 8 July 2015 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. extradites Bosnian prison guard to face war-crimes charges, 8 July 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55b5f46215.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 08, 2015
A former Bosnian prison camp guard living in the United States has been extradited to his native country to face war-crimes charges, including beating, humiliating and traumatizing civilian detainees.
Almaz Nezirovic, 54, was extradited last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said July 7.
Nezirovic came to the United States in 1997. He is accused of torturing Serbian victims, including minors, at the Rabic prison camp in 1992 during the civil war in the region now known as Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bosnian officials allege that Nezirovic "wilfully caused great suffering and serious injury" to detainees, beating them with batons and rifles and forcing some to crawl on the ground naked and eat grass where others had urinated.
"This extradition marks the culmination of years of legal effort to have Mr. Nezirovic properly face trial for the horrible acts of abuse he is charged with," said Anthony P. Giorno, an acting U.S. attorney in Virginia.
A judge in Bosnia-Herzegovina issued a warrant for Nezirovic's arrest in 2003, but he delayed extradition through legal appeals.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website