During the war in Bosnia, Dzeko was a member of the Zulfikar special unit. He is accused of crimes committed in Trusina and Jablanica. The unit's commander, Zulfikar Alispago, his deputy Nihad Bojadzic and several lower-ranked officers and soldiers were accused before and are now standing trial for the same crimes.
State prosecutor Sanja Jukic said in her opening statement she would prove that Dzeko took part in the murder of six civilians and three HVO prisoners in Trusina in April 1993 as well as in the mistreatment of Croats detained in a Jablanica prison.
Jukic said Dzeko had special status in the Zulfikar unit and was in a position to give orders, including for the murder of prisoners.
The first prosecution witness will be called on August 28.
After the Bosnian war ended in 1995, Dzeko emigrated to the United States. He was extradited last December and is in custody in Sarajevo.
The U.S. extradited Rasema Handanovic to Bosnia for the same crimes Dzeko is on trial for. She was also a member of the Zulfikar unit. She confessed to the killing of Croat civilians and prisoners of war in Trusina and made a plea deal with the State Prosecutor's Office, resulting in a prison sentence of five and a half years handed down in April.