Ivanovic to remain in detention pending appeal

PRISTINA - An international prosecutor of the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office has announced an appeal against a decision to transfer Oliver Ivanovic to a detention unit in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudeljevic said on Friday.

As a result, Ivanovic, the leader of Citizens' Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice, will remain in a detention unit in Pristina for the time being, Gudeljevic said in a statement to Tanjug.

An international judge of the Mitrovica Basic Court has ordered that Ivanovic be transferred to the detention unit in northern Mitrovica after his attorney Nebojsa Vlajic requested a transfer to the Serb-majority part of the town.

In the request, Vlajic cited several problems related to conditions in the detention unit in Pristina and the distance he and Ivanovic's family have to travel between the detention unit and their places of residence.

A pre-trial judge has deemed that there are no problems regarding the detainee's personal safety while in detention in Pristina, and that his rights are not in danger.

However, under Article 33 of the law on enforcement of criminal sanctions, the permanent or temporary place of residence of a detainee's family must be taken into account, Gudeljevic explained.

The final decision will be taken by the panel of international judges of the Mitrovica Basic Court, and the suspect will remain in the detention unit in Pristina in the meantime, the EULEX spokesperson said.

The leader of Citizens' Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice 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...