Ivanovic: Ethnic Albanians also know I am not guilty

In an interview for the Thursday issue of Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, Ivanovic said that the reason why he is still detained is the “artificial political balance”, considering that serious steps are underway against ethnic Albanian politicians in Kosovo.When asked to comment on the last week's decision of the Pristina Appellate Court to deny his appeal concerning the decision on detention extension, Ivanovic said that his expectations were not high, knowing that in such a politically sensitive moment the court would not opt for a “radical solution” and release him pending trial.Serious steps have been or will be undertaken against prominent Albanian politicians, former KLA members, and the investigation into human organ trafficking, led by Clint Williamson's special investigative team, is in a final administrative phase, Ivanovic added.He stressed that his being charged with participation in the crimes against Kosovo Albanians in 1999 is absurd, as at the time of the events he was in Pristina, working alongside Albanians. "I have many witnesses to confirm that I have worked with them every day. In any case, I was neither recruited, nor did I take any part in the conflicts. I was politically active afterwards and my political stands can be easily tracked on the internet," Ivanovic said.Leader of the Citizens' Initiative 'Freedom, Democracy, Justice' Oliver Ivanovic was arrested on January 27 on suspicion that he participated in several crimes committed in 1999 and 2000, including an aggravated murder. The government of Serbia offered guarantees for Ivanovic's release pending trial, which the Koovo judicial authorities ignored.