Zdravko Tolimir, Bosnian Serb military commander (b. 1948)

Zdravko Tolimir: A Detailed Profile of a Bosnian Serb War Criminal and His Role in the Bosnian War

Zdravko Tolimir (Serbian Cyrillic: Здравко Толимир; 27 November 1948 – 9 February 2016) was a high-ranking Bosnian Serb military commander whose actions during the devastating 1992-1995 Bosnian War led to his international conviction as a war criminal. His extensive involvement in the conflict saw him found guilty of some of the gravest offenses under international humanitarian law, including genocide and crimes against humanity, specifically related to the systematic campaigns of ethnic cleansing and atrocities committed by the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS).

Pivotal Role in the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS)

As the Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security for the Bosnian Serb army (VRS), Tolimir held a critical and high-ranking position within the military hierarchy. This role granted him significant oversight and responsibility for the intelligence gathering and security operations that underpinned the VRS's strategic and tactical decisions during the war. His direct reporting line to General Ratko Mladić, the supreme commander of the VRS and himself a notorious figure later convicted of genocide and numerous other war crimes, underscored Tolimir's deep involvement and direct access to the highest levels of military command. This proximity to Mladić placed Tolimir at the heart of military planning, particularly regarding operations targeting non-Serb populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Convictions for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Zdravko Tolimir faced trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), an ad hoc UN court established to prosecute individuals responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia since 1991. The ICTY ultimately convicted him on multiple counts, reflecting the scale and severity of the atrocities he was found responsible for:

These charges were primarily linked to his command responsibility and direct involvement in the horrific events that unfolded in July 1995, notably the Srebrenica genocide and the systematic forced displacement of Bosniak populations from the Srebrenica and Žepa enclaves. The Srebrenica genocide involved the systematic slaughter of over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys by VRS forces, an event recognized as the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II. As Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security, Tolimir's position implied direct knowledge, planning, and complicity in the execution of these systematic campaigns of violence, terror, and ethnic cleansing.

Imprisonment and Death

Following his conviction and sentencing to life imprisonment for these severe war crimes, Zdravko Tolimir was incarcerated at the Detention Unit of the International Criminal Court (ICC), commonly known as Scheveningen prison, located in The Hague, Netherlands. This facility has housed many high-profile individuals tried by the ICTY and other international courts. Tolimir died while serving his life sentence on 9 February 2016, at the age of 67, marking the end of the life of one of the key figures held accountable for the atrocities of the Bosnian War.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Zdravko Tolimir

Who was Zdravko Tolimir?
Zdravko Tolimir was a high-ranking Bosnian Serb military commander during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, notably serving as the Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security for the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). He was later convicted as a war criminal by the ICTY for genocide and other crimes against humanity.
What was his primary role in the Bosnian War?
He served as the Assistant Commander for Intelligence and Security for the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), reporting directly to its commander, General Ratko Mladić. This position gave him significant responsibility for intelligence gathering and security operations during the conflict.
What specific crimes was Zdravko Tolimir convicted of?
Tolimir was convicted by the ICTY of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination, murder, persecution on ethnic grounds, and forced transfer. These charges were largely in connection with the Srebrenica genocide and the ethnic cleansing of Bosniak enclaves in 1995.
Which international court tried and convicted Zdravko Tolimir?
He was tried and convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Where and when did Zdravko Tolimir die?
Zdravko Tolimir died on 9 February 2016, at the age of 67, while serving his life sentence for war crimes at Scheveningen prison (the Detention Unit of the ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.