BELGRADE – The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Sunday expressed deep concern and protest over the inhuman treatment to which Oliver Ivanovic, leader of the Citizens’ Initiative ‘Serbia, Democracy, Justice’ is subjected to in a Pristina prison.
Ivanovic was placed in detention on remand after the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) launched investigative proceedings against him in January, for crimes allegedly committed against Albanian civilians 15 years ago.
“In a civilized world, every man is innocent until proven guilty. That is the way it is supposed to be with Oliver Ivanovic. However, for the umpteenth time in Kosovo, we see that the prison authorities and the Albanian prisoners treat Serbs who allegedly committed crimes as the worst of criminals,” reads the statement from the Diocese.
EULEX and Kosovo’s local institutions have turned a deaf ear to Ivanovic’s request that he be released pending trial or at least transferred to the prison unit in Kosovska Mitrovica where he would certainly receive a more humane treatment.
“Oliver Ivanovic’s health is getting worse by the day. What is more, the prison authorities are threatening to put him in solitary confinement and isolation if he continues to refuse food, and Albanian prisoners attacked him physically again a few days ago,” the Diocese of Raska and Prizren said.
The Diocese stresses that although as a Christian institution it cannot give its support to a hunger strike and has been constantly urging Oliver to preserve his health and strength, they do understand that his further stay in the detention unit in Pristina under the current conditions will put his life in even greater danger and that it is aimed at crushing and humiliating him as a personality.
The Diocese of Raska and Prizren said that it will once again urge international institutions and foreign diplomatic offices to consider Ivanovic’s request, as he has cooperated with these institutions for years, and has been pointing to the need for a peaceful co-existence of Serbs and Albanians in KiM.
Bishop of Raska and Prizren Teodosije visited Oliver Ivanovic in custody two times and conveyed to him the support of the priests, monks and people of the Diocese who wish that, trusting God and His justice, he be able to prove his innocence.
