Dozens gathered in downtown Sarajevo to express their support for ex Bosnian Army general Atif Dudakovic and his 12 co-defendants who stand accused of war crimes.

The protesters claim they disagree with what they call the prosecution’s “manipulation of facts” regarding what happened during the 1992-1995 war.

Bosnian authorities arrested former Bosnian Army general Atif Dudakovic and 12 other members of his Fifth Corps last week. Prosecutors accuse them of killing hundreds of captured Bosnian Serb soldiers from the area of Western Krajina and Bosniak civilians who supported the Autonomous Province of West Bosnia – 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.

Supporters from Krajina are expected come to Sarajevo to join the gathering.

“Just police, just generals and a just army have enabled these people and tourists to be in a free and independent Bosnia and Herzegovina today,” said Minister for Veterans’ Affairs to Sarajevo Canton, Muharem Fiso, as the protesters occupied Sarajevo’s landmark Old Town, Bascarsija, filled with tourists.

“What the citizens of Sarajevo want to show is support for all of those suspects accused of war crimes,” the Minister said, referring to Dudakovic and his co-defendants.

“Injustice kills people. They want to manipulate history, and today we are showing them that we stand with our generals and that justice will prevail,” he said.