Šešelj trial opens in Hague

The trial of Serb Radical Party (SRS) leader Vojislav Seselj starts today at the Hague Tribunal. Seselj is accused of war crimes committed in Croatia, Bosnia, and Vojvodina, and the trial will open with the prosecution’s, followed by his own, opening statements, both of which are expected to last some four hours. Seselj trial opens in Hague The trial will be the first before the Hague Tribunal to consider the power and consequences of “inflammatory speech“, with the court having to decide if, and to what extent, Seselj’s public appearances contributed to the execution of the serious crimes with which he has been charged. The prosecution claims that the accused’s ideas of a Serbia stretching to Karlobag and Ogulina, and his anti-Muslim and anti-Croat rhetoric were a part of war propaganda that incited certain individuals into committing crimes in Vukovar, Mostar, Zvornik, Nevesinje, Sarajevo, and even in Vojvodina. In the indictment that was last altered in March of this year, the prosecution also accuses Seselj of participating in the recruitment of volunteers for paramilitary formations, along with assisted in their organization and financing. Finally, he is accused of being, along with Slobodan Milosevic, Ratko Mladic, Veljko Kadijevic, Jovica Stanisic and others, involved in “a common criminal mission“, whose aim was to extend the borders of the Serbian nation, while at the same driving out the non-Serb population from territory the Serbs considered to be their own. In the most recent version of the indictment, Seselj is charged with persecution on a racial, religious and political basis, together with murder, deportation, torture, and destruction and theft of victims’ property. The SRS leader surrendered voluntarily to the Hague Tribunal in February 2003, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Since then, he has vehemently insisted on being allowed to defend himself, and the court, following his 27-day hunger strike, was forced to alter its initial ruling to assign him a defense counsel. Seselj has said that he is ready for the trial, although his request for the court to finance his defense and pay for legal advisers has still to be settled. After today’s opening speeches, the trial will be postponed until December when the first witness is due to take the stand. The Serbian state television RTS is set to spend up to EUR 250,000 per month in order to provide live coverage and footage of the trial. A scene from Belgrade ahead of the Seselj trial (Beta)

Šešelj trial opens in Hague

The trial will be the first before the Hague Tribunal to consider the power and consequences of “inflammatory speech“, with the court having to decide if, and to what extent, Šešelj’s public appearances contributed to the execution of the serious crimes with which he has been charged.

The prosecution claims that the accused’s ideas of a Serbia stretching to Karlobag and Ogulina, and his anti-Muslim and anti-Croat rhetoric were a part of war propaganda that incited certain individuals into committing crimes in Vukovar, Mostar, Zvornik, Nevesinje, Sarajevo, and even in Vojvodina.

In the indictment that was last altered in March of this year, the prosecution also accuses Šešelj of participating in the recruitment of volunteers for paramilitary formations, along with assisted in their organization and financing.

Finally, he is accused of being, along with Slobodan Milošević, Ratko Mladić, Veljko Kadijević, Jovica Stanišić and others, involved in “a common criminal mission“, whose aim was to extend the borders of the Serbian nation, while at the same driving out the non-Serb population from territory the Serbs considered to be their own.

In the most recent version of the indictment, Šešelj is charged with persecution on a racial, religious and political basis, together with murder, deportation, torture, and destruction and theft of victims’ property.

The SRS leader surrendered voluntarily to the Hague Tribunal in February 2003, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Since then, he has vehemently insisted on being allowed to defend himself, and the court, following his 27-day hunger strike, was forced to alter its initial ruling to assign him a defense counsel.

Šešelj has said that he is ready for the trial, although his request for the court to finance his defense and pay for legal advisers has still to be settled.

After today’s opening speeches, the trial will be postponed until December when the first witness is due to take the stand.

The Serbian state television RTS is set to spend up to EUR 250,000 per month in order to provide live coverage and footage of the trial.