Ivanovic to be transferred to detention centre in Mitrovica

The review panel of judges at the Basic Court of Mitrovica thus confirmed the ruling of the pre-trial judge concerning Ivanovic's transfer to the detention center in Mitrovica, Nikolic Solomon told the press."The review panel has indicated that the decision is to be executed immediately, and plans are underway for the transfer," the EULEX spokesperson said.In the initial ruling of the pre-trial judge, it was assessed that there was no security risk for Oliver Ivanovic in being detained in the detention center in Pristina.However, in the appeal process, the review panel found that there were no legal reasons to prevent Oliver Ivanovic from being transferred to the detention centre in Mitrovica, Nikolic Solomon said.Ivanovic went on hunger strike on March 4, and his sole request was to be transferred from Pristina to the detention centre in Kosovska Mitrovica.The GI SDP leader was arrested on January 27 in Kosovska Mitrovica on suspicion of involvement in the crimes in 1999 and 2000, including an aggravated murder.The Serbian government offered guarantees for Ivanovic to be released pending trial, but the EULEX mission did not take this into consideration and extended his custody to two months.In recent days, local and top-level officials have reiterated calls for Ivanovic's request to be met in relation to the transfer to the detention center in Kosovska Mitrovica.Gov't insists on release of all Serb detainees pending trial.Transferring Oliver Ivanovic from a detention unit in Pristina to a detention centre in northern Kosovska Mitrovica would represent fundamental care for his safety, Serbian Minister without portfolio for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin said on Tuesday.While in detention in Kosovska Mitrovica, Ivanovic will at least not have to fear for his safety when leaving his cell to go for a walk, Vulin told reporters in Pozarevac.The fight for the rights of Ivanovic and other Serb arrestees does not end with the decision to transfer him, Vulin said.The Serbian government has provided guarantees to ensure that all Serbs who have been detained in Kosovo-Metohija are released pending trial and it will continue to insist on this, Vulin said.Ivanovic, 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 an alleged war crime in 1999 and post-war incidents in 2000, including an aggravated murder, and for inciting to ethnically motivated murder.The Serbian government demanded on February 10 that Ivanovic and three other Serbs be released pending trial, offering guarantees that they will be available to the EULEX mission throughout their trials.However, despite the guarantees, Ivanovic's detention has been extended for two more months on February 27.Ivanovic subsequently went on a hunger strike and a panel of judges of the North Mitrovica Basic Court reviewed his appeal on Monday, deciding that there are no legal obstacles to an immediate transfer to detention in northern Kosovska Mitrovica.