Nebojša Pavković Небојша Павковић | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pavković in 2018 | |
| Born | (1946-04-10)10 April 1946 Senjski Rudnik, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Died | 20 October 2025(2025-10-20) (aged 79) Belgrade, Serbia |
| Allegiance |  SFR Yugoslavia (1970–1992) FR Yugoslavia (1992–2002) |
| Branch | Yugoslav People's Army (1970–1992) Yugoslav Army (1992–2002) |
| Years of service | 1970–2002 |
| Rank | Colonel general |
| Commands | Chief of the General Staff |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Order of Freedom |
Nebojša Pavković (Serbian Cyrillic:Небојша Павковић; 10 April 1946 – 20 October 2025) was a Serbian army general who served asChief of the General Staff of theArmed 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 theKosovo War, from December 1998 to February 2000. In 2009, Pavković was convicted by theICTY of war crimes during the Kosovo War and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Pavković was born in the village ofSenjski Rudnik in the municipality ofDespotovac on 10 April 1946. He finished teacher training college inAleksinac in 1966, and was conscripted into theYugoslav People's Army on 20 July 1970. Pavković graduated from theMilitary Academy inBelgrade 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.[3]
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.[4] For success as commander leadership he received numerous medals and awards;Slobodan Milošević awarded him theOrder of Freedom for commanding the Third Army during theNATO bombing of Yugoslavia.[5][6] After theoverthrow 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 thePresident of FR YugoslaviaVojislav Koštunica.[7]
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.[8]
On 25 April 2005, Pavković was surrendered to theInternational Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) inThe Hague where he was charged with committingcrimes against humanity andwar crimes during theKosovo War.[9][10] On 26 February 2009, the ICTY convicted Pavković of the charges and sentenced him to 22 years in prison.[11] His sentence was upheld in January 2014.[12]
Pavković served his sentence inKylmäkoski, Finland, from 2014.[12] In September 2025, he was transferred to Serbia due to health reasons.[13] He died in Belgrade the following month, on 20 October, at the age of 79.[14]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the General Staff of theArmed Forces of Yugoslavia 7 February 2000 – 24 June 2002 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
