The decision to sentence Radovan Karadzic to life in imprison is "appropriate in the interest of justice," Turkey's foreign minister said Wednesday.
"Radovan Karadzic, the butcher of Bosnia, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his part in the Srebrenica Genocide," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter. "Even though it does not relieve the pain we feel for the slaughter of our Bosnian brothers&sisters, we find this decision appropriate in the interest of justice."
A UN tribunal at The Hague on Wednesday sentenced the former Bosnian Serb leader for genocide, crimes against humanity and violating the laws and customs of war.
Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül also tweeted early Thursday about the sentencing. "The Srebrenica genocide is a black blotch in modern European history. No court decision can relieve the pain in consciences," Gül said. "However, the decision of the Council of Appeal of the International Criminal Courts to Radovan Karadzic for the life imprisonment is gratifying."
In 2016 Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity relating to the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. He filed an appeal seeking an acquittal or retrial.
Following the closure of the former Yugoslav tribunal in 2017, the Council of Appeal of the International Criminal Courts Mechanism took over the cases.
It announced Wednesday the decision for Karadzic's appeal that had been going on for three years.
The Council also sentenced Karadzic, 73, for genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His appeal of his 40-year prison sentence was also rejected.
"Considering the brutality and unprecedented size of the crimes committed, the 40-year prison sentence was insufficient," said the Council.
It confirmed Karadzic had knowledge of murders committed in July 1995 following the fall of Srebrenica.
He was, however, found not guilty of genocide in seven other Bosnian towns.
Apart from his single genocide conviction, he was also found guilty on five counts of crimes against humanity and four war crimes charges, including taking UN soldiers hostage, exterminating civilians, murders, and attacking soldiers.
