War crimes defendant elected deputy speaker of RS National Assembly

Vasic, a member of the largest opposition party, was nominated by the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) caucus through MP Ognjen Bodiroga.

Out of 69 MPs present, 63 voted in favour of his appointment. No votes were cast against, and no MPs abstained.

Vasic is facing trial before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes allegedly committed in the Zvornik area in the spring of 1992. He stands accused alongside Vinko Radovic and Petko Panic of participating in a widespread and systematic attack on the Bosniak population in late May and early June of that year, in their roles as officials of the civil, military, and police authorities in Zvornik.

According to the indictment, the accused participated as a co-perpetrator in the forcible displacement of approximately 4,000 Bosniak civilians from the villages of Djulici, Klisa, and surrounding areas. The victims were reportedly subjected to inhumane treatment, and around 600 civilians were unlawfully detained.

Dragan Spasojevic was also charged in the same case, but proceedings against him were separated due to his unavailability to the Court of BiH.

Previously, Vasic was indicted for genocide in Srebrenica in his capacity as chief of the Zvornik Public Security Centre. He was acquitted, along with four other former police officials, in a final verdict issued in August 2022.

In August last year, the Court of BiH ruled that the state must pay to Vasic 22,000 Bosnian marks (approximately €11,250) in damages for restrictions imposed on him during the proceedings, Detektor reported.