Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of
Practice Relating to Rule 78. Exploding Bullets
Under the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s Penal Code (1976), as amended in 2001, the use of, or the order to use, “means or methods of combat prohibited under the rules of international law, during a war or an armed conflict” is a war crime.
The commentary on the Penal Code as amended notes: “The following weapons and means of combat are considered to be prohibited: explosive projectiles under 400 g. that burst or have an incendiary charge”.
In a statement in 1991, the Supreme Command of the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA or JNA) of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia stated:
The authorities and Armed Forces of the Republic of Slovenia are treating JNA as an occupation army; and are in their ruthless assaults on JNA members and their families going as far as to employ means and methods which were not even used by fascist units and which are prohibited under international law … They are … using explosive bullets.