Lawyer: Accusations against Ivanović "politically motivated"

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA Oliver Ivanovic's lawyer has said that accusations against his client "made no sense" and stressed he was facing "a politically motivated process." Ivanovic, a former Serbian government official, now leader of the Civil Initiative (GI) SDP, was arrested earlier this week on charges of war crimes. Lawyer: Accusations against Ivanovic "politically motivated" His lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic told B92 that his client was facing accusations of "ordering the murder of certain Albanians in his role of police commander, while driving out or liquidating from their apartments another group." According to Vlajic, these accusations are "absolutely ridiculous for several reasons." He explained that Ivanovic was a civilian during the war and could not have held the position that the prosecution alleges. "I am fully certain that there are no Albanians, either, who believe that," the lawyer said, and added: "As for the other part of what he's been charged with, that he ordered some Albanians to move out or be liquidated from apartments, this absolutely has nothing to do with the truth and there are hundreds of pieces of evidence that speak the opposite." Asked how Ivanovic's questioning went and whether he as a lawyer had a chance to learn about the evidence that the prosecution had, Vlajic said that in the current phase of the process the prosecutor did not have to disclose the evidence to the defense, but added that they must prove that "a certain level of suspicion does exist." "However, what is absolutely unacceptable are witness testimonies, mostly, but not 100 percent, made by Albanians," Vlajic stated. According to him, "the first group of statements" was taken in 1999 and 2000. "In other words, shortly after the alleged events took place. If it was true and if that was the evidence against Ivanovic, the question arises why he was not accused then. He has spent his entire life in Kosovska Mitrovica and was available to the justice organs the whole time." "As for the second group of witnesses, they made their statements several months ago. The question once again arises why, if what they said is true, they waited 14, 15 years to say it. Considering all this I am convinced that these are politically motivated accusations, because I am unable to see any legal reasons to conduct this procedure and make the decision on (Ivanovic's) detention," Vlajic said. In November, Ivanovic ran for mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica but was defeated by Krstimir Pantic, who later refused to take the oath of office. Repeat elections have been called for February 23. The deadline for candidates to register with the election commission is expiring on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Pantic was also questioned by the police, on suspicion that he physically assault a man last November. Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, file) "Belgrade fully interested" Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Tuesday that "Belgrade will request all data" in relation to the detention of Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic. Selakovic told B92 that the Kosovo Special Prosecutors Office (KSPO) is under the jurisdiction of EULEX, with which Belgrade cooperates, so Belgrade will ask of EULEX officials to provide all the data they could give. "Belgrade will remain fully interested in learning the reasons for the detention of Oliver Ivanovic, and the evidence charging him with what appeared in the media," Selakovic said, adding that he is surprised at those claims, as Ivanovic previously presented the data that the former UNMIK prosecution dismissed all accusations against him concerning the same cases. Selakovic noted that the detention will affect further political developments in Kosovo and Metohija. "Nothing happens by chance in Kosovo and Metohija, particularly when you have a volatile area where the slightest moves could have an impact on something," Selakovic said when asked whether he sees a connection between the detention of Ivanovic and the forthcoming re-run of local elections. B92 Tanjug

Lawyer: Accusations against Ivanović "politically motivated"

His lawyer Nebojša Vlajić told B92 that his client was facing accusations of "ordering the murder of certain Albanians in his role of police commander, while driving out or liquidating from their apartments another group."

According to Vlajić, these accusations are "absolutely ridiculous for several reasons." He explained that Ivanović was a civilian during the war and could not have held the position that the prosecution alleges.

"I am fully certain that there are no Albanians, either, who believe that," the lawyer said, and added:

"As for the other part of what he's been charged with, that he ordered some Albanians to move out or be liquidated from apartments, this absolutely has nothing to do with the truth and there are hundreds of pieces of evidence that speak the opposite."

Asked how Ivanović's questioning went and whether he as a lawyer had a chance to learn about the evidence that the prosecution had, Vlajić said that in the current phase of the process the prosecutor did not have to disclose the evidence to the defense, but added that they must prove that "a certain level of suspicion does exist."

"However, what is absolutely unacceptable are witness testimonies, mostly, but not 100 percent, made by Albanians," Vlajić stated.

According to him, "the first group of statements" was taken in 1999 and 2000.

"In other words, shortly after the alleged events took place. If it was true and if that was the evidence against Ivanović, the question arises why he was not accused then. He has spent his entire life in Kosovska Mitrovica and was available to the justice organs the whole time."

"As for the second group of witnesses, they made their statements several months ago. The question once again arises why, if what they said is true, they waited 14, 15 years to say it. Considering all this I am convinced that these are politically motivated accusations, because I am unable to see any legal reasons to conduct this procedure and make the decision on (Ivanović's) detention," Vlajić said.

In November, Ivanović ran for mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica but was defeated by Krstimir Pantić, who later refused to take the oath of office. Repeat elections have been called for February 23. The deadline for candidates to register with the election commission is expiring on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Pantić was also questioned by the police, on suspicion that he physically assault a man last November.

"Belgrade fully interested"

Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selaković said on Tuesday that "Belgrade will request all data" in relation to the detention of Serb political leader Oliver Ivanović.

Selaković told B92 that the Kosovo Special Prosecutors Office (KSPO) is under the jurisdiction of EULEX, with which Belgrade cooperates, so Belgrade will ask of EULEX officials to provide all the data they could give.

"Belgrade will remain fully interested in learning the reasons for the detention of Oliver Ivanović, and the evidence charging him with what appeared in the media," Selakovic said, adding that he is surprised at those claims, as Ivanovic previously presented the data that the former UNMIK prosecution dismissed all accusations against him concerning the same cases.

Selaković noted that the detention will affect further political developments in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Nothing happens by chance in Kosovo and Metohija, particularly when you have a volatile area where the slightest moves could have an impact on something," Selaković said when asked whether he sees a connection between the detention of Ivanović and the forthcoming re-run of local elections.