Ivanovic gives statement to Kosovo's special prosecutor
Oliver Ivanovic, the leader of the Serbia Democracy Justice (SDP) citizen initiative, gave a statement to the prosecutor of Kosovo's Special Prosecution Office on Monday.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Ivanovic's hearing, in the presence of a lawyer, in southern Kosovska Mitrovica lasted for a couple of hours and ended around 18:00 CET.
Ivanovic's lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic said that Ivanovic is suspected of two serious crimes committed in 1999 and 2000 which claimed the lives of Kosovo Albanians. The lawyer dismissed the possibility of Ivanovic's accountability, and the transcript is expected after which the prosecutor will deliver his decision. The Citizen Initiative SDP from Kosovo has said that its leader Oliver Ivanovic was not arrested, but responded as a responsible citizen to EULEX's invitation to provide a statement. Ivanovic was not arrested, and EULEX's invitation to him has the political background of creating a balance concerning arrests in the Albanian community, the party stated. "However, it is undoubtedly meant to create fear and instability in the entire Serb community in Kosovo," the party said. EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudeljevic told Tanjug earlier on Monday an operation in northern Kosovo was under way, but did not reveal any other details or mentioned any names. One person is being interviewed by a prosecutor from the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo regarding war crimes, she stated. Details about the operation will be given later in the day, she noted. The EULEX headquarters in Pristina also confirmed that an operation was ongoing, but no other details about its nature or potential arrests were disclosed. Spokesperson of the EU high representative for foreign affairs and securty policy Maja Kocijancic also said in Brussels on Monday that information about Ivanovic's arrest was being verified and that she could not at the moment comment on it. Ivanovic ran for mayor in north Kosovska Mitrovica in November as the candidate of the Citizen Initiative SDP. He was also Serbia's state secretary for Kosovo from 2008 to 2012.
Ivanovic's lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic said that Ivanovic is suspected of two serious crimes committed in 1999 and 2000 which claimed the lives of Kosovo Albanians. The lawyer dismissed the possibility of Ivanovic's accountability, and the transcript is expected after which the prosecutor will deliver his decision. The Citizen Initiative SDP from Kosovo has said that its leader Oliver Ivanovic was not arrested, but responded as a responsible citizen to EULEX's invitation to provide a statement. Ivanovic was not arrested, and EULEX's invitation to him has the political background of creating a balance concerning arrests in the Albanian community, the party stated. "However, it is undoubtedly meant to create fear and instability in the entire Serb community in Kosovo," the party said. EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudeljevic told Tanjug earlier on Monday an operation in northern Kosovo was under way, but did not reveal any other details or mentioned any names. One person is being interviewed by a prosecutor from the Office of the Special Prosecutor of Kosovo regarding war crimes, she stated. Details about the operation will be given later in the day, she noted. The EULEX headquarters in Pristina also confirmed that an operation was ongoing, but no other details about its nature or potential arrests were disclosed. Spokesperson of the EU high representative for foreign affairs and securty policy Maja Kocijancic also said in Brussels on Monday that information about Ivanovic's arrest was being verified and that she could not at the moment comment on it. Ivanovic ran for mayor in north Kosovska Mitrovica in November as the candidate of the Citizen Initiative SDP. He was also Serbia's state secretary for Kosovo from 2008 to 2012.
