The extension of detention for leader of the Serb party Citizens' Initiative Freedom, Democracy, Justice in Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic is scandalous and Serbia and the Ministry of Justice will do all they can to provide assistance in his defence as much as possible, Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Friday.

Unfortunately, little is possible at the moment and we need to be aware of what we can do, Selakovic said and added that the Ministry is in constant contact with the Serbian government Office for KiM concerning the flagrant violation of human rights of Oliver Ivanovic who has been in detention for so long only because he is a prominent Serb from northern Kosovo.

In a situation when our hands are tied concerning Kosovo and when there is de facto no Serbian sovereignty in the judiciary, we can provide assistance in Ivanovic's defence and we will do that to the extent that is feasible, Selakovic noted.

Ivanovic was arrested in January 2014 on charges of war crime against civilians which he allegedly committed in Kosovo in 1999, and his detention sentence was extended on Thursday until October 6. He launched a hunger strike in the Mitrovica prison facility, demanding release pending trial.