Request for transfer of another Serb detainee to KM

Request for transfer of another Serb detainee to KM

Brkljač said that he expects that the request for the transfer of former police chief in the Serb-majority part of Kosovska Mitrovica Dragan Delibašić will be accepted since his situation is the same as the one of Oliver Ivanović.

He said that Delibašić is charged with crimes that were allegedly committed in the territory of Kosovska Mitrovica, the same as Ivanović, adding that the case is prosecuted by the Basic Public Prosecutor and the Basic Court in Mitrovica, so the question arises why he was placed in the Priština custody.

Brkljač underlined that Delibašić is discriminated on the basis of nationality, adding that no Albanian detainee, whose family is in the territory of Priština, is placed in custody in Kosovska Mitrovica, while he is prosecuted in Priština.

He said that Delibašić's security is seriously threatened in Priština, adding that he was verbally abused in the prison yard by Albanian detainees, including even death threats, after which he decided not to leave the unit he shares with three other detainees.

The lawyer noted that for weeks the Priština-based media were defaming Ivanovic and Delibašić describing them as the most dangerous offenders and war criminals.

“A number of witness statements have appeared in the media convicting them of the crimes, even before the trials,” he said.

Brkljač expressed hope that the EULEX pre-trial judge will take into account all the reasons and adopt Delibašić's request to be transferred to the Kosovska Mitrovica detention center.

Leader of the Citizens' Initiative 'Freedom, Democracy, Justice' Oliver Ivanovic has been in detention since January 27, while former police chief in the Serb-majority part of Kosovska Mitrovica Dragoljub Delibašić has been in custody since February 4.

The two were 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 government provided guarantees that Ivanovic, Delibašic and two other Serbs would be available to the EULEX mission throughout their trials. Based on the guarantees, EULEX judge ordered release only of Žarko Veselinović on February 28.

Afterwards, Ivanovic went on a hunger strike on March 4, and when his health condition deteriorated seriously, the Review Panel found that there were no legal reasons to prevent Ivanovic from being transferred to the detention center in Kosovska Mitrovica, so the transfer took place on March 12.