A Uruguayan court sentenced nine former soldiers to between 13 and 15 years in prison for the torture and unlawful imprisonment of civilians during the country’s 1973-1985 civic-military dictatorship, in a landmark ruling for the long-pursued Roslik case.
On Monday, December 22, more than 40 years after the crime, it was decided to maintain the precautionary measures against the soldiers, with the added requirement that the travel ban must be formally communicated to Immigration authorities.
RELATED: Operation Condor: How the U.S. Fueled Terrorism in Latin America 50 years ago
However, the request from the victims’ defense to change the defendants’ status from house arrest to preventive detention was not granted, as it was considered that “there is no special procedural risk to warrant it.”
🔴Justicia condenó en primera instancia a los nueve militares imputados por el asesinato de Vladimir Roslik. Las penas de entre 13 y 15 años de prisión es por delitos de tortura y privación de la libertad en San Javier en 1980.
El fallo fue dictado por el juez de Fray Bentos de… pic.twitter.com/Ie14BlSL0m
— Diego Martini Lemos (@cabezamartini) December 22, 2025
The Sentences
The nine convicted retired soldiers are Oscar Mario Roca, Ivo Morales, Abel Perez, Hector Caubarrere, Jorge Soloviy, Daniel Castella, Rodolfo Costas, Luis Estebenet, and Eduardo Saiz.
The longest sentences—15 years and six months—were handed to Roca, Morales, and Pérez, found guilty of repeated abuse of authority, serious injury, and unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Caubarrere and Soloviy each received 14 years and six months for multiple counts of unlawful detention, abuse of detainees, and serious injury.
Castella and Costas were sentenced to 13 years and six months, Estebenet to 11 years and six months, and Saiz to 13 years. Charges include unlawful imprisonment, abuse of authority, and infliction of grave bodily harm.
The Roslik Case
The case stems from a major military operation in San Javier on April 29, 1980, during which several men, including physician Vladimir Roslik, were abducted and tortured. Though released months later, Roslik remained under state surveillance and intimidation.
He was forcibly taken again in a pre-dawn raid on April 15, 1984, and transported with others to the 9th Infantry Battalion in Fray Bentos, where he was subjected to further torture.
Roslik died from his injuries the following day. His death is historically regarded as the last fatal atrocity carried out under Uruguay’s 1973–1985 civil-military dictatorship.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.