A Sarajevo gathering of support for former Bosnian Army general Atif Dudakovic, who stands accused of war crimes, could only hurt his case, his lawyer, Asim Crnalic, told N1.

Bosnian authorities arrested former Bosnian Army general Atif Dudakovic and 12 other members of his Fifth Corps last week. They stand accused of war crimes, committed between 1994 and 1995, and related to the alleged killing of hundreds of captured Bosnian Serb soldiers from the area of Western Krajina and Bosniak civilians who supported the Autonomous Province of West Bosnia during 1994 – a structure that was run by Bosniaks who rebelled against the Sarajevo government.

Despite the prosecutions’ request for the suspects to remain in custody, the Bosnian State Court ordered their release.

“It could hurt the suspects, our defendants, because the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered restrictive measures for them and they have to oblige. Any gathering which brings the ruling of the Court into question would actually jeopardize a ruling that is favorable,” Crnalic said, explaining that “Dudakovic, Nadarevic and others have already been allowed not to be in custody when defending themselves.”

Prosecutors appealed the Court’s decision to release Dudakovic and his co/defendants, but Crnalic said the defense has already prepared an answer to it.

“I have just completed an answer to the Prosecutors’ complaint. I hope the Court will accept the position of the defense and dismiss the complaint,” he said.