Croatian Generals Ante Gotovina And Mladen Markac Acquitted
- by croatiaweek
- in Latest
Croatian Generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac have been freed by The Hague Court this morning. Judge Theodor Meron said that the court entered “a verdict of acquittal” for General Gotovina and General Markac, both aged 57.
The court ordered the immediate release of the pair and they are expected to be back in Croatia as soon as tonight. Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic told reporters that he will send the government plane for the pair, who are seen as heroes in Croatia.
“A weight has been lifted off our shoulders. Gotovina and Markac are innocent. I thank them for enduring this much for Croatia,” said Milanovic.
In mid-April last year, the Hague court sentenced the two Croatian generals for war crimes, with Gotovina receiving 24 years, and Markac 18 years in prison.
“This decision ends the war”, said Gotvina’s close friend Zeljko Dilber after hearing the verdict.