The leader of the Civic Initiative ‘SDP’ Oliver Ivanovic, before the Municipal Court in Kosovska Mitrovica, has pleaded not guilty regarding the all charges submitted against him for involvement in war crimes in 1999 and 2000. ” I am absolutely not guilty,” said Ivanovic in response to a question of Judge, Roxana Komsa, if he feels guilty.
The other four accused Serbs, Dragoljub Delibasic, father and son Ilija and Nebojša Vujacic and Aleksandar Lazović also pleaded not guilty for the actions they are charged for.
In the first instance court in Kosovska Mitrovica today was held the first hearing against these five Serbs suspected of committing war crimes and aggravated murder in 1999 and 2000. Hearing was attended by relatives of the accused persons, the Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric and his associates, some mayors of Serbian municipalities in northern Kosovo and the large number of news crews.
Prosecutors are Jonathan Ratel and Romulo Mateus while the presiding judge is from Romania, Roxana Komsa.
EULEX spokesperson Dragana Nikolic Solomon told reporters before the start of today’s hearing that after the first hearing the accused persons have 30 days to submit objections or requests for dismissal of the indictment. She added that the main trial will resume after the judge makes a decision regarding the objections of the accused persons, but there is also a possibility that the indictment will be dismissed.
