Rwandan genocide survivors outraged by ICTR decision: On 5 February 2013, the day after the ICTR overturned the convictions of former Minister of Trade Justin Mugenzi and former Public Service Minister Prosper Mugiraneza, genocide survivor groups condemned the decision and expressed worry that a troubling trend was emerging. Rwandan Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga stated that the Appeals Chamber had overturned the conviction based on a “simplistic treatment of facts…creating a trend…that will continue.” In the past, the ICTR has acquitted at least three convictions of senior government officials, most notably the conviction of Protais Zigiranyirazo, who is widely believed to be the creator of the genocide plan.
Senegal to inaugurate special court for Habré trial: On 8 Feburary 2013, judges for the Extraordinary African Chambers will be inaugerated to try the case against former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré. The court of 4 Senegalese judges was created by an agreement with the African Union, and the pretrial investigation is expected to last until 2014. If warranted by the findings of the pretrial investigation, a non-Senegalese judge will be appointed by the AU and preside over the trial. The trial will be the first time that a leader of one country will be tried for human rights violations by a court of another. Habré, who is alleged to have killed and tortured thousands of people during the 1980s, fled to Senegal following his deposal 1990.
ICTY orders Mladic to contribute to own legal defense fund: On 1 February 2013, the ICTY found that former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic had the financial means to contribute €60,992 towards the cost of his high-profile legal defense team, which includes Belgrade lawyer Branko Lukic. Since his arrest in 2011, the ICTY has ben financing his legal costs, after Mladic claimed that he lacked the means.
