"Only head of detention center can request transfer"

"Only head of detention center can request transfer"

In a statement to Tanjug, Gudeljevic explained that the panel of judges decided that, at the moment, only the head of the detention center could lodge a request for Ivanović's transfer and that "the parties have no right to appeal" against the decision.

The defense of the GI SDP leader demanded that Ivanović be transferred for reasons of security from the detention unit in Pristina to the one in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, which is populated mostly by Serbs and a home to Ivanović's family.

An international judge at the Basic Court in Mitrovica approved the request by Ivanović's attorney, but a prosecutor with the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office lodged a challenge against the decision.

After that, the panel of international judges at the Basic Court in Mitrovica accepted the challenge and decided that Ivanović should remain in the detention unit in Pristina.

Nebojsa Vlajić, Ivanović's attorney, has told Tanjug that the decision has been made without any reasoning, and noted that it constitutes a precedent, taking into account that since 1999 and the arrival of the military and civilian mission, no request has been rejected.

"This is the first time that a prosecutor lodges a challenge against the decision on a transfer and that the decision is overturned," he added.

Ivanović's health has deteriorated since he was informed about the decision, the attorney noted.

Ivanović suffers from hypertension and, in fear of his safety, he is not using his right to daily walk but has been locked up in the prison unit for 21 days now, which has an additional negative impact on his health, the attorney noted.

"We call on the international community and Serbian government to engage as actively as possible in resolving this politically motivated case and release Oliver Ivanović pending trial," Vlajic said, underscoring that Ivanović is innocent.

The GI SDP leader and candidate for mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica in the February 23 elections has been in detention since January 27.

He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in an alleged war crime in 1999 and post-war incidents in 2000, including an aggravated murder, and for inciting to ethnically motivated murder.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić protested Ivanović's arrest in the strongest of terms before the UN Security Council on February 10.

He said that the arrest took place just before the mayoral elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica - in which Ivanović is one of the candidates - and demanded his release.

On the same day, the Serbian government provided guarantees that Ivanović and three other Serbs will be available to the EULEX mission throughout their trials.