GI SDP: Suspend dialogue until gov't guarantees are accepted

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Members of the Citizens' Initiative "Freedom, Democracy, Justice" (GI SDP) noted on Friday that there were no grounds for the court's decision to extend detention on remand for their leader Oliver Ivanovic, and added that the court in Pristina thus violated the basic human right of the detainee to be released pending trial.

In that way, the court demonstrated distrust toward the Serbian government which had given firm guarantees that Ivanovic will be available to the judiciary throughout his trial, and disrespect toward everyone who demanded that Ivanovic be given the basic human right, they underscored.

That is the reason why the GI SDP expects the Serbian government to freeze the talks in Brussels until the guarantees offered for the Serbs are not accepted, the release notes.

At the same time, the GI SDP urges the court in Pristina to consider Ivanovic's complaint against the extension of detention for 60 days.

GI SDP members also noted that they are shocked at the injustice that is being demonstrated toward one of the most distinguished Serbs, and Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija in general.

Suspected criminals and offenders that are not Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija are allowed home detention and release pending trial, while these rights do not exist for the Serbs facing fabricated accusations, the release reads.

On Thursday, the pre-trial judge of the Basic Court in Kosovska Mitrovica decided to extend the detention on remand for Ivanovic for two months, at the request of the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office, and offered the argument that there is the risk of flight and the risk that the defendant might influence witnesses.

Ivanovic was arrested on January 27, on suspicion...