By Medina Malagić – Sarajevo

Momčilo Krajišnik, who was convicted by the Hague Tribunal in March 2009 to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity against the non-Serb population in B&H, will be released from prison on 30 August after serving two-thirds of his sentence in Great Britain.

Specifically, he was found guilty for the deportation and forced displacement of Bosniak and Croat civilians in municipalities in B&H from April to December 1992.

He is expected to return to Pale tomorrow at around 17:00, where his family currently lives. Pale is a small town located southeast of Sarajevo, and is one of the six municipalities of the City of Eastern Sarajevo.

The welcoming ceremony is being organized by the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), which he co-founded.

The President of the Union of Students from the RS Predrag Govedarica issued an open invitation to all students from the RS to attend the official ceremony to welcome Krajišnik’s return, based on the premise that Krajišnik initiated the founding of the University of East Sarajevo.

”I call on all students from our university, and all students from the University of Banja Luka to attend the ceremony for the arrival of Momčilo Krajišnik. The RS Union of Students, and I think all students, are thankful to Krajišnik because he founded the University that we attend today, and we are now building it, and it is getting better every day. We know how difficult it was then, for people in war circumstances”, said Govedarica in a statement to RS media outlets.

Teodor Meron, President of the Hague Tribunal, allowed for the release of Krajišnik on the basis of his demonstrated readiness for rehabilitation.

”Krajišnik accepts the judgement of the Tribunal and his responsibility for the violent displacement of the non-Serb population from the area of the RS. He also expressed his desire to assist in the process of reconciliation among the peoples in B&H”, stated in the decision of the President of the Hague Tribunal.

Even though Pale is adorned with Krajišnik’s pictures and welcome signs, war victims in B&H have expressed shock that the indicted war criminal will soon be released before serving his 20-year prison sentence, asserting that his release would definitely not contribute to the process of reconciliation in the country.

Krajišnik co-founded the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) together with Radovan Karadžić in 1990. He also served as Speaker of the RS National Assembly from 1990-1992.