OSCE concerned about threats to witnesses

The OSCE mission to Serbia has expressed concern over complaints by certain witnesses in war crimes cases in the Higher Court in Belgrade.

Source: Beta

Friday, 03.02.2012.

13:18

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The OSCE mission to Serbia has expressed concern over complaints by certain witnesses in war crimes cases in the Higher Court in Belgrade. Some witnesses complained that they are not being offered adequate protection and that they are being subjected to threats. OSCE concerned about threats to witnesses The latest complaint was made publicly during the trial and in a letter sent to the media and the OSCE mission by Zoran Raskovic, a witness in the Cuska case, who made a series of claims about the bad treatment, intimidation and threats he has been subject to because of his testimony, while under the protection of the Unit for the Protection of Criminal Procedure Participants. Thomas Moore, deputy head of the OSCE mission to Serbia, said in a written statement to Beta that the mission's war crimes trial observers had met with witness Raskovic this week and directly heard his claims of threats and intimidation. He said that if appropriate steps are not taken in response to repeated complaints that pressure and threats against witnesses are coming from the state organs charged with their protection, then future witnesses could become frightened and be discouraged from appearing in court. Raskovic, a former paramilitary and witness in the trial against members of the Sakali ("jackals") paramilitary group for crimes committed in the village of Cuska in Kosovo in 1999, gave details of the crimes, specified some of the accused as the executors, but also told the court chamber that he and his family were being threatened from "powerful places." Beta

OSCE concerned about threats to witnesses

The latest complaint was made publicly during the trial and in a letter sent to the media and the OSCE mission by Zoran Rašković, a witness in the Ćuška case, who made a series of claims about the bad treatment, intimidation and threats he has been subject to because of his testimony, while under the protection of the Unit for the Protection of Criminal Procedure Participants.

Thomas Moore, deputy head of the OSCE mission to Serbia, said in a written statement to Beta that the mission's war crimes trial observers had met with witness Rašković this week and directly heard his claims of threats and intimidation.

He said that if appropriate steps are not taken in response to repeated complaints that pressure and threats against witnesses are coming from the state organs charged with their protection, then future witnesses could become frightened and be discouraged from appearing in court.

Rašković, a former paramilitary and witness in the trial against members of the Šakali ("jackals") paramilitary group for crimes committed in the village of Ćuška in Kosovo in 1999, gave details of the crimes, specified some of the accused as the executors, but also told the court chamber that he and his family were being threatened from "powerful places."

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