The Russian side was a few days ago officially informed that the Trial Chamber of ITFY had rejected former President of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic's request for provisional release from ITFY's jurisdiction to travel to Moscow for medical treatment at the Bakulev Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Guided by considerations of humanity, the Russian Federation had as early as January 17 sent ITFY the necessary guarantees envisaged by the Tribunal's Rules of Procedure and Proof, including, in particular, guarantees of Milosevic's personal security, his timely return to The Hague and the observance of all the conditions that might be laid down by ITFY regarding the ex-Yugoslav president's delivery to Russia and stay in our country. Milosevic also assumed necessary personal commitments.

Yet the Trial Chamber notes in its decision that the legal advisers of Milosevic failed to convince the judges that the treatment of the ex-Yugoslav president cannot be provided in the Netherlands. The ITFY judges also stressed that Milosevic is in the concluding stage of a very long trial, is charged with committing many serious crimes and, if found guilty, may be sentenced to life imprisonment. In these conditions, says the decision, the Trial Chamber is not convinced that that the accused, if released, would return for the continuation of the trial.

The Russian side takes note of the ITFY's decision. At the same time, that decision cannot but evoke regret in Moscow, especially as the Tribunal left the necessary guarantees given by the Russian Federation without attention.

Milosevic's brother says Slobodan's life in jeopardy - Russian radio
BBC Monitoring Newsfile. London: Feb 24, 2006. pg. 1

Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 1900 24 Feb 06/BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC
Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 24 February

[Presenter] The life of the former president of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, is in jeopardy, his brother Borislav Milosevic, a former Yugoslav ambassador to Moscow, believes. He expressed indignation over today's decision by the Hague Tribunal to refuse his brother going to Russia for medical treatment. He said this in an interview with our radio station.

[Borislav Milosevic] I do not know whether or not they will poison him but I do not rule this out altogether. I do not rule out that he might be even secretly liquidated. As far as his medical treatment is concerned, their moves do not give any grounds to believe that he is being treated in a fair and humane way. Their decision is negative. Incidentally, as I see the reasons behind the decision, I believe that it is not just inhumane, it simply violates human rights. At issue is an ailing man, a man aged 65. Despite the immaculate validity of the various components of this appeal, of this request, they turned it down.

[Presenter] I would like to remind you that Milosevic has more than once complained about the bad state of his health and this is why the court hearings, which have been in progress for several years now, have been interrupted several times. In January, Milosevic's defence passed documents to the International Tribunal on the basis of which the tribunal was expected to take the decision to temporarily release the former president of Yugoslavia.

Credit: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 1900 24 Feb 06

Milosevic rights breached his brother tells Russian radio
BBC Monitoring Newsfile. London: Feb 24, 2006. pg. 1

Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1200 24 Feb 06/BBC Monitoring/(c)BBC
Excerpt from report by Russian Mayak radio on 24 February

[Presenter] The Hague [International Criminal] Tribunal has ruled that Slobodan Milosevic cannot be temporarily released for a course of medical treatment in Moscow. The judges turned down the application despite the fact that Russia had guaranteed the observance of all the conditions of release that might be set by the tribunal. [Passage omitted]

[Presenter] Here is how Slobodan's brother, Borislav Milosevic, who was the Yugoslav ambassador to Russia from 1998 to 2001, commented on the news for Mayak.

[Borislav Milosevic] I believe it inhumane to use every means to prevent a sick man in his 65th year from getting medical treatment. It is a violation of his rights - and a crude one at that. The arguments used to justify the decision - that the prosecution fears he will not return from Russia and that he can get treatment elsewhere, including Holland - are also quite unacceptable. They are even hurtful to Russia because they mean that Russian guarantees are seen as unreliable. And the second and most important thing is that Slobodan Milosevic does not trust the doctors there, while he does trust Russian doctors. [Passage omitted]

Credit: Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1200 24 Feb 06

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