The Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) has denied a request for early release by Sredoje Lukic, who was convicted of war crimes in Visegrad, after he served two-thirds of his sentence.

In the decision signed by Mechanism President Graciela Gatti Santana, it is stated that, although Lukic is eligible to apply for early release, “significant factors oppose his early release, including the gravity of his crimes and his failure to demonstrate sufficient signs of rehabilitation.”

“In making my decision on whether to grant the request, I consulted with two MICT judges. Both judges agreed that the request should be denied. Judge Agius acknowledges that while Lukic has served two-thirds of his sentence and is thus eligible for early release consideration, the request should be dismissed due to the severity of his crimes and insufficient evidence of rehabilitation,” Santana noted in her decision.

The judges indicated that Lukic had provided no evidence of compelling humanitarian reasons that would justify his early release.

One of the reasons cited for denying Lukic's request was his unwillingness to accept responsibility for the crimes for which he was convicted.

“Additionally, during a recent interview with a psychiatrist and psychologist, he laughed and remarked, ‘This is starting to remind me of the court.’ He appeared vague when speaking about the crimes he was convicted of, considering his conviction unjust. This attitude toward the severity of his actions, combined with his focus on his own circumstances, reveals a significant lack of acceptance of full responsibility,” the MICT decision stated.

The Appeals Chamber of the Hague Tribunal had, in December 2012, sentenced Sredoje Lukic to 27 years in prison, reducing his original sentence by three years. In the same case, Milan Lukic was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sredoje Lukic was found guilty of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war, including aiding and abetting the crimes committed in Pionirska Street, Visegrad, on June 14, 1992, when a number of civilians from Koritnik were burned alive in the home of Adem Omeragic.

Sredoje Lukic is serving his sentence in Norway.