Nebojša Pavković
Nebojša Pavković Небојша Павковић | |
|---|---|
Pavković in 2018 | |
| Born | 10 April 1946 Senjski Rudnik, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Died | 20 October 2025 (aged 79) Belgrade, Serbia |
| Allegiance | SFR Yugoslavia (1970–1992) FR Yugoslavia (1992–2002) |
| Branch | Yugoslav People's Army (1970–1992) Yugoslav Army (1992–2002) |
| Service years | 1970–2002 |
| Rank | Colonel general |
| Commands | Chief of the General Staff |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Order of Freedom |
Nebojša Pavković (Serbian Cyrillic: Небојша Павковић; 10 April 1946 – 20 October 2025) was a Serbian army general who served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Yugoslavia from February 2000 to June 2002. He also served as the Commander of Third Army of the Armed Forces of Serbia during the Kosovo War, from December 1998 to February 2000. In 2009, Pavković was convicted by the ICTY of war crimes during the Kosovo War and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Life and career
Pavković was born in the village of Senjski Rudnik in the municipality of Despotovac on 10 April 1946. He finished teacher training college in Aleksinac in 1966, and was conscripted into the Yugoslav People's Army on 20 July 1970. Pavković graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade in 1970, finished junior officers' school in 1982 and senior officers' school in 1988. He served as a battalion commander within the 10th Infantry Brigade and later headed the 16th Proletarian Infantry Regiment. From 1988 to 1989, he was the commander of the 16th Motorized Brigade. Between 1988 and 1993, he held several posts in the Federal Secretariat for National Defence.[2]
When the conflict in Kosovo began, Pavković was the Commander of the Third Army. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1996, Lieutenant General in 1998 and Colonel General in 1999.[3] For success as commander leadership he received numerous medals and awards; Slobodan Milošević awarded him the Order of Freedom for commanding the Third Army during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.[4][5] After the overthrow of Milošević, Pavković remained at his position as Chief of the General Staff until 24 June 2002, when he was removed from his position by the President of FR Yugoslavia Vojislav Koštunica.[6]
He published two books, which covered events which led to the Kosovo War and military events during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia on the Kosovo battlefield.[7]
ICTY trial, sentence and death
On 25 April 2005, Pavković was surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague where he was charged with committing crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Kosovo War.[8][9] On 26 February 2009, the ICTY convicted Pavković of the charges and sentenced him to 22 years in prison.[10] His sentence was upheld in January 2014.[11]
Pavković served his sentence in Kylmäkoski, Finland, from 2014.[11] In September 2025, he was transferred to Serbia due to health reasons.[12] He died in Belgrade the following month, on 20 October, at the age of 79.[13]
Publications
- The smell of gunpowder and death in Kosovo and Metohija in 1998[14] (Serbian Cyrillic: Мирис барута и смрти на Косову и Метохији 1998.) (2015)
- The Third Battalion in "Merciful Angel's" Embrace for 78 Days (Serbian Cyrillic: Трећа армија 78 дана у загрљају Милосрдног анђела) (2018)[15]
Notes
- ^ "Neispričane priče iz rata: Delovi iz autobiografije generala Nebojše Pavkovića (5): Bitka za Vukovar". 5 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ B92 & 10 September 2002.
- ^ Ivetić, Velimir (2000). Načelnici generalštaba: 1876-2000 (in Serbian). NIC "Vojska". p. 90.
- ^ "Орден слободе Ојданићу и Павковићу". Borba. LXXVII (167): 1. 16 June 1999. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ "Снажно јединство војске и народа у најтеже време". Borba. LXVII (331–334): 1, 3. 27–30 November 1999. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ Bujošević, Dragan (27 June 2002). "Generalova izgubljena bitka". nin.rs (in Bosnian). Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Dragović, R. (26 October 2018). "Haradinaj može da piše, srpskim generalima brane". novosti.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ politizovana, vlada militarizovana Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Podaci o predmetu Pavkovic i drugi (IT-03-70) Archived 18 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Kosovo trial clears Serbia leader". BBC News. 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Hag: Nebojša Pavković služiće kaznu u Finskoj". blic.rs (in Serbian). Tanjug. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Spisak uslova koje je general Nebojša Pavković potpisao da bi se vratio u Srbiju". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 29 September 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "Umro Nebojša Pavković: Bivši general preminuo na VMA u 79. godini". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 20 October 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ Stojanovic, Milica (25 October 2019). "Serbian Ministry Promotes War Criminals at Belgrade Book Fair". Balkan Transitional Justice. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Rudic, Filip (24 October 2018). "Serbian Defence Ministry Publishes War Criminal's Book". Balkan Transitional Justice. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
References
- "Predsednički izbori: Nebojša Pavković" [Presidential Elections: Nebojša Pavković]. B92 (in Serbian). 10 September 2002. Archived from the original on 3 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- "The Prosecutor vs. Pavkovic et al. – Charges". International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. 30 December 2000. IT-05-87-PT. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2015.