The leader of the Civic Initiative SDP Oliver Ivanović stated today that he and other four Serbs are not guilty for crimes they are charged with, and that he expects to prove this in the ongoing court proceeding. Trial to Olvier Ivanovic and other four Serbs continues today in front of the international court panel at the Basic Court in Mitrovica North, with the hearing of witnesses of the defense, following the hearing of 55 witnesses of the prosecution.

“I expect us to finalize and confirm what, it seems to me, is no more dilemma either for justice or for the court panel. Simply, I am not guilty, nor are these four others, but we have to prove it in a regular court proceeding. It is difficult, however, it is possible,” said Ivanović this morning while leaving his apartment on his way to the court.

This is the first time that Ivanović goes to the trial from the house arrest, where he was set by the court decision on 21 September, after he was discharged from the hospital in Mitrovica following his weeks-long hunger strike.

Ivanović is accused for committing war crimes against civilians during 1999 and 2000 in Kosovo. The same indictment encompasses and retired Serbian police colonel Dragoljub Delibašić, Ilija and Nebojša Vujačić and Aleksandar Lazović, who are charged with murder and attempted murder.