Savičić, accused of war crimes, fails to appear at first court hearing
Bosnian Serb Davor Savičić, who is accused in Ukraine of war crimes against civilians during the temporary occupation of part of the Kyiv region by Russian troops in 2022, failed to appear at the first hearing at the Borodianka District Court. The consideration of the case was postponed, Balkan Insight reports.
Charges concerning events in the Kyiv region
According to Ukrainian law enforcement authorities, 46-year-old Savičić is a Bosnian Serb from Banovići and holds citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia. Investigators believe that he commanded the “Wolves” unit, which operated as part of the Redut military formation alongside Russian forces of the aggressor state, Russia.
On June 30, Ukrainian prosecutors filed an indictment against Savičić for violating the laws and customs of war. The case concerns alleged crimes against civilians in Fedorivka, Ivankiv, and surrounding areas during the temporary occupation of part of Kyiv Oblast by Russian troops.
One of the victims, Mykola, told journalists that Russian servicemen captured him in Fedorivka on March 3, 2022. According to him, he was taken to a forest blindfolded and with his hands tied, beaten, and tied to a tree, with a grenade placed between his back and the trunk. The man was later held in a pit for several days and forced to dig positions for military equipment.
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Possible trial in absentia
Mykola told Balkan Insight that Savičić controlled his detention. He also claimed that he was forced to record a false statement on camera saying that he had allegedly been an officer of the Security Service of Ukraine. This recording was later shown on Russia’s Channel One.
Another civilian woman is listed as a victim in the case. According to the investigation, she was detained, brought to Savičić for questioning, asked about Ukrainian forces, and forced to take part in a staged interview for Russian media.
Savičić’s state-appointed lawyer, Dmytro Zemnytskyi, said that all contacts known to the investigation were used to summon the defendant, including email, social media accounts, the Uriadovyi Kurier newspaper, and official online channels. The next hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 17. If Savičić continues to fail to appear after being properly notified, prosecutors may petition for special proceedings in absentia. His current whereabouts have not been confirmed.
