Slobodan Praljak is a Croatian politician and writer who served as general in the Croatian Army and the Croatian Defence Council, an army of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia.
Education
In 1970 he graduated as an electrical engineer at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Zagreb with a Grade Point Average of 4/5. In 1971 he graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy, majoring in philosophy and sociology. In 1972 he graduated from the Film Academy and began working in theater and television
Career
He is among six Croat politicians convicted at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in relation to war crimes during the Bosnian War. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Slobodan Praljak has 3 university degrees.
He wrote his thesis there on the correction of chromatic image in the main of an electrical signal for television work.
He also lectured in philosophy and psychology in Zagreb. During 1970-is and 1980-is he was a director of theaters in Zagreb, Osijek and Mostar.
In 1991 he signed up for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and reached the rank of major general. In 1992 he was assigned a number of roles in addition to his army post and for much of 1992-1993 he wore several hats, working as:
Assistant Minister of Defence and senior representative of the Croatian Ministry of Defence
representative of the Croatian Ministry of Defence to the Herceg-Bosna/HVO government and armed forces
Slobodan Praljak is among six accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in relation to the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia.
In his role as a high ranking official in the Ministry of Defense he was closely involved in all aspects of not only the Herceg-Bosna/HVO military planning and operations but the actions of the Herceg-Bosna/HVO civilian police too.
Taken from the United Nations press release:
nine counts of grave breaches of the Geneva conventions (wilful killing. Inhuman treatment (sexual assault). Unlawful deportation of a civilian.
Unlawful transfer of a civilian.
Unlawful confinement of a civilian. Inhuman treatment (conditions of confinement).
Inhuman treatment. Extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.
Appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly). nine counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (cruel treatment (conditions of confinement). Cruel treatment; unlawful labour.
Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or destruction not justified by military necessity. Destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion or education.
Plunder of public or private property.
Unlawful attack on civilians. Unlawful infliction of terror on civilians. Cruel treatment), and
eight counts of crimes against humanity (persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds.
Murder.
Rape; deportation. Inhumane acts (forcible transfer). Imprisonment; inhumane acts (conditions of confinement).
Inhumane acts).
Membership
One of 14 members of the Republic of Croatia’s Council of National Defence
member of Croatia’s state commission for relations with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR).