In reaction , Franjo Tuđman named Blaškić Inspector General of the Croatian Army . Later in the year , Blaškić was told by his military superiors that it was his duty to voluntarily surrender and he reluctantly did so ; his trial began in 1997 . On 3 March 2000 , The First Trial Chamber of the ICTY handed down its verdict , which condemned Blaškić to 45 years in prison . The First Trial Chamber charged Blaškić , based on his individual personal responsibility ( Art. 7 § 1 ICTY Statute ) and on his responsibility as hierarchical superior ( Art. 7 § 3 ICTY Statute ) , on the following counts : The case was in appeal until July 2004 when the ICTY appeals panel dismissed 16 of 19 counts in the initial indictment , notably the claim that Blaškić had command responsibility for the massacre in Ahmići and that Ahmići was not a legitimate military target . The decision did not assess the nature of Croat-Muslim war in Bosnia in 1993 – 94 ; it accepted the defense claim that there existed a " double chain of command " . The appeals panel reaffirmed less serious charges , including responsibility for the inhumane treatment of POWs . It reduced Blaškić 's prison sentence to nine years , purportedly due to his good behavior , clear prior record , poor health , voluntary surrender and his young children
massacre in Ahmići
Ahmići massacre
Tihomir Blaškić