Dubrovnik Republic (1991)
The Dubrovnik Republic (Serbian: Dubrovačka Republika; Дубровачка република) was a Serb proto-state that existed during the Siege of Dubrovnik in the Croatian War of Independence, self-proclaimed by the Yugoslav People's Army on 15 October 1991 in occupied areas of Croatia, after being captured by members of 2nd Corps of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). Its provisional president was Aleksandar Aco Apolonio.
Dubrovnik Republic Dubrovačka Republika Дубровачка Република | |||||||||
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| 1991–1992 | |||||||||
Occupied parts of Croatia, held by the Yugoslav People's Army (dark green) and claimed territory (light green) | |||||||||
| Status | Historical proto-state proclaimed in occupied parts of Croatia, held by the Yugoslav People's Army | ||||||||
| Capital | Cavtat (de facto) | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
• President | Aleksandar Aco Apolonio | ||||||||
| Historical era | Yugoslav Wars | ||||||||
• Capture of Cavtat by JNA forces | 15 October 1991 | ||||||||
• JNA withdrawal and dissolution | 4 May 1992 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Croatia | ||||||||
The proclaimed territory did not correspond to the pre-1808 Republic of Ragusa borders, stretching from Neum (Bosnia and Herzegovina's only coastal town) to Prevlaka (on Croatia's maritime border with Montenegro), and only existed in the occupied villages Cavtat and Konavle. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) during the trial of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, identified the Dubrovnik Republic as being part of several regions in Croatia that Milošević sought to be incorporated into a "Serb-dominated state". The ICTY stated that the JNA's campaign in the Dubrovnik region was aimed at securing territory for this political entity.