In a small Uruguayan courtroom, the dark shadows of the past finally began to clear. The case of Vladimir Roslik, a doctor from San Javier, had haunted the town for decades. Abducted in the early hours of April 15, 1984, and tortured to death at the Batallón de Infantería Nº9 in Fray Bentos, his murder marked the final brutal act of a dictatorial regime.
Imagine a web of deceit, intricate and treacherous, where the truth was a luxury few could afford. This was the reality for the people of San Javier, where 11 individuals were subjected to merciless torture between 1980 and 1984. The military’s justification? A supposed link between the local Russian community and the Soviet Union, fueled by the notion that the detainees were connected to a shipment of arms arriving via a Russian submarine. But the prosecution saw through this facade, revealing an elaborate scheme concocted by the Servicio de Información y Defensa.
A New Chapter in the Case
As the trial entered its intermediate phase, prosecutor Ricardo Perciballe presented his case against nine former military officials. Penalties ranging from 11 to 15 years were sought for crimes including deprivation of liberty and torture. The defendants’ lawyers countered, but the judge ultimately sided with the prosecution. The stage was set for the next hearing, where the admissibility of evidence would be scrutinized.
The prosecution’s case was built on damning evidence, including testimony from those who suffered at the hands of their tormentors. For three former military officers, Óscar Mario Roca, Ivo Morales, and Abel Pérez, the prosecution requested 15 years and 6 months in prison for their roles in repeated instances of deprivation of liberty, abuse of authority, and grievous bodily harm.
The Accused Face Justice
The charges were similarly severe for the other defendants:
- Héctor Caubarrere and Jorge Soloviy faced 14 years and 6 months in prison for identical crimes.
- Daniel Castellá and Rodolfo Costas were accused of deprivation of liberty, abuse of authority, and grievous bodily harm, with the prosecution seeking 13 years and 6 months in prison.
- Eduardo Saiz faced 13 years in prison, while Luis Estebenet was accused of the same crimes, with a requested sentence of 11 years and 6 months.
The road to justice has been long and arduous, but with each passing day, the truth inches closer to the light. As the trial progresses, the people of San Javier wait with bated breath, hoping that those responsible for the atrocities will finally be held accountable. The judge’s decision, expected in the coming months, will bring closure to a chapter of Uruguayan history that has been shrouded in darkness for far too long.
