The former political and military leaders of the former Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna -- Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Valentin Coric, Berislav Pusic and generals Slobodan Praljak and Milivoj Petkovic -- were released pending trial after the appeals chamber on Wednesday rejected an appeal by the prosecution against the decision of the trial chamber.
Following the tribunal's rules, the six men made no statements for the press.
The tribunal issued an indictment against the six men this April, charging them with crimes against humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war and serious breaches of the Geneva conventions committed during expulsions of Bosnian Muslims from areas controlled by the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) from the end of 1991 until April 1994.
The accused voluntarily surrendered to the tribunal on April 5 and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The governments of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have provided assurances that the six accused will adhere to all the prescribed conditions, meaning that they will report to the police, seek permission for travel, not make public statements, not tamper with witnesses and show up at the trial.
All the men except General Petkovic hold dual Croatian and Bosnian citizenship.