The Eparchy of Raška and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has expressed deep concern over the health of Civic Initiative SDP leader Oliver Ivanović, who has gone on a hunger strike, and urged the international community in Kosovo-Metohija to ensure that he is released pending a verdict.

In a statement, the Eparchy urged a soonest possible conclusion of the trials of Ivanović and retired Serbian police colonel Dragoljub Delibašić, to which it said they are entitled, pursuant to all international conventions.

The Eparchy expressed deep disappointment and dissatisfaction over the decision of the EULEX judges to extend Ivanović's and Delibašić's detention, and noted that the two men, after several months of investigative detention, have still not been released pending verdicts in spite of all the guarantees that they will not evade responsibility.

"Moreover, as people who deeply believe and know that they are not responsible for what they have been accused of, they feel a human responsibility and dignity before their families and their people to prove their innocence," the Eparchy said.

Dozens of witnesses have been heard In Ivanović's case but none directly implicated the suspect in the murder he is charged with, the statement said.