Lawyers: Zlatan Arsic is a free man as of today, the first acquittal for a Serb for war crimes

Zlatan Arsic is a free man as of today; this is the first acquittal for war crimes, lawyer Vasilije Arsic said after the judicial council in Pristina issued an acquittal in the case of Arsic from Hajnoc near Kosovska Kamenica.

"Today we have good news for the public, that Zlatan Arsic has been acquitted of charges of war crimes, and this is the first acquittal by the Special Chamber for War Crimes. I thank the judicial council, which had the strength to consider all the evidence and make such a just decision," lawyer Vasilije Arsic said.

He thanked his colleague, lawyer Dejan A. Vasic, for support in the defense, as well as the media that followed this case.

"Zlatan is no longer the accused; he is a free man, leaving prison today. He spent 11 months in prison. Unfortunately, only he knows what it was like, but justice has finally come; it is slow but achievable," Arsic said.

The explanation of the verdict shows that the charges were unfounded, Arsic explained.

"No evidence confirmed the fact that Zlatan committed a war crime. As the defense, we argued this from the start, during the request for the indictment to be dismissed, and during the evidentiary proceedings. It is undisputed that Zlatan Arsic had an alibi and was not there when this incident allegedly occurred," Arsic said, adding that the defense, through its efforts, had refuted the prosecutor's claims.

Lawyer Dejan A. Vasic was the second defense attorney in this case.

"When I thought about this last night, that it might be possible for this proceeding to end this way, it was as if I was afraid of my own thoughts. But, thank God, and thanks to the judges who realistically considered this case. But I think that what happened today is a victory, first of all, for Zlatan's family, and after that, for my colleague Vasilije Arsic, who brilliantly led this defense in the case. I am happy to say that we, Serbs, have won here once," Vasic said.

Zlatan Arsic's wife, Zorica, thanked the lawyers and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija for their support.

"Justice has prevailed. Thanks also to the judge for recognizing the true fact that he wasn't there and did not commit any war crimes. I am overjoyed and thank you for following this. God willing, everyone gets out of prison," Zorica Arsic said.