New mayor requests release of detained Serbs

New mayor requests release of detained Serbs

Oliver Ivanović, leader of the Citizen Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice and member of the municipal council of Kosovska Mitrovica, has been in detention for 29 days without cause, Rakić said in his letter.

Since Ivanović's term in custody is due to end on February 26, Rakić, as the mayor, on behalf of the citizens and his own, requested that the authorities release Ivanović pending his trial.

Granting the request, which was filed by Ivanović, is extremely important because it will have a positive influence on the stability of the political situation in northern Kosovo and help release tension among the people, which were caused by his needless arrest, Rakić stated.

The Serbian government has provided a written guarantee that Ivanović will be available at any point and all other reasons for his detention "have no basis in reality," Rakić said.

The Citizen Initiative SDP has also asked the authorities in Kosovo to release Ivanović pending a trial, based on the facts and in accordance with their authority.

"It is high time for this politically motivated process that has no basis and threatens the fragile peace and political stability in Kosovo, while also hurting Oliver Ivanović psychological and physical condition and his life, to end," the Citizen Initiative SDP said in its request.

"We feel that political persecution has no place in an independent and professional judicial system, which is how the judiciary in Kosovo presents itself," the document says.

The leader of SDP 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.