Šešelj refuses to enter plea

Vojislav Seselj has for the second time refused to enter his plea to the contempt of court charge before the Hague Tribunal. Judge Burton Hall entered into the record that the accused pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Seselj refuses to enter plea Just like a week before, Seselj explained his refusal to enter his plea by claiming that the prosecutor did not reveal all the necessary documents. At the same time Seselj told the judge: “I guarantee you that there will be at least ten more proceedings against me for contempt of court. So I've decided.“ The Hague Tribunal charged him for the second time with contempt of court at the beginning of February after he had allegedly revealed identities of protected witnesses in his main trial for war crimes. As Seselj refused to enter his plea last Thursday, he referred to himself as “the biggest enemy of the Hague Tribunal“, and he accused the prosecutors of “celebrating Adolf Hitler and of being his followers“. According to the indictment, Seselj published in his book “numerous information about the witnesses, including their real names, places of residence, which enabled their identification”. The book revealed names of 11 protected witnesses, the indictment reads. Seselj has been detained at the Hague since early 2003, and the questioning of the prosecution’s last witness in the main trial for war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Vojvodina and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991-1993 is scheduled for next week. According to announcements, Seselj will after that, in accordance with the court’s regulations, file a request for release.

Šešelj refuses to enter plea

Just like a week before, Šešelj explained his refusal to enter his plea by claiming that the prosecutor did not reveal all the necessary documents.

At the same time Šešelj told the judge: “I guarantee you that there will be at least ten more proceedings against me for contempt of court. So I've decided.“

The Hague Tribunal charged him for the second time with contempt of court at the beginning of February after he had allegedly revealed identities of protected witnesses in his main trial for war crimes.

As Šešelj refused to enter his plea last Thursday, he referred to himself as “the biggest enemy of the Hague Tribunal“, and he accused the prosecutors of “celebrating Adolf Hitler and of being his followers“.

According to the indictment, Šešelj published in his book “numerous information about the witnesses, including their real names, places of residence, which enabled their identification”.

The book revealed names of 11 protected witnesses, the indictment reads.

Šešelj has been detained at the Hague since early 2003, and the questioning of the prosecution’s last witness in the main trial for war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Vojvodina and Bosnia-Herzegovina 1991-1993 is scheduled for next week.

According to announcements, Šešelj will after that, in accordance with the court’s regulations, file a request for release.