Citizens' Initiative SDP: Ivanovic's health deteriorates

Citizens' Initiative SDP warns that Ivanovic suffers from hypertension and that in fear of his safety he is not using his right to daily walk but has been locked up in the prison unit for 21 days now, which has an additional negative impact on his health. "We appeal to the international community, primarily the EU Special Representative in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar, as well as the government of Serbia, to engage as quickly and actively as possible in the solution of this politically motivated case and to recognize our leader's right to be released pending trial," states the release. The leader of Citizens' Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice and candidate for mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica in the February 23 elections has been in detention since January 27. He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in alleged war crimes in 1999 and post-war incidents in 2000, as well as an aggravated murder. Following Ivanovic's arrest, leaders of political parties and institutions in northern Kosovska Mitrovica as well as the Serbian government Office for Kosovo have demanded from the Pristina judiciary that he be released pending trial. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic protested Ivanovic's arrest in the strongest of terms before the UN Security Council on February 10. He said that the arrest took place just before the mayoral elections in northern Mitrovica - in which Ivanovic is one of the candidates - and demanded his release. On the same day, the Serbian government provided guarantees that Ivanovic and three other Serbs will be available to the Eulex mission throughout their trials.