Kosovo Serb leader Ivanovic in detention for six months

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Six months expired on Sunday since the arrest of Oliver Ivanovic as one of the political leaders of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, and the indictment against him has not been raised yet.

Judge of the Kosovska Mitrovica Basic Court recently extended the detention sentence for Ivanovic until August 26, and numerous requests for him to be released pending trial filed since the beginning of the trial have not been accepted.

After over a month long detention in the Pristina prison unit, Ivanovic went on a hunger strike for about a week, demanding transfer to the Northern Mitrovica prison, and his demand was met on March 12.

Ivanovic is suspected of involvement in war crimes and incitement to an aggravated murder, but the official indictment against him has not been raised to this day.

Ivanovic's lawyers believe that the court proceedings against Ivanovic are not transparent, recalling that the Serbian government issued guarantees that Ivanovic will be available to the local courts at all times if released pending trial.

In the restaged local elections, Ivanovic was nominated for the Norhtern Mitrovica mayor by his party Citizens Initiative 'Freedom, Democracy, Justice' although he was still imprisoned.

The pre-trial judge of the Kosovska Mitrovica Basic Court believes that there is still a risk of Ivanovic escaping or exerting pressure on witnesses in case he is released from detention.

Photo Tanjug, Boki (archive photo)