Russia guarantees Milosevic’s return to trial after treatment

Itar-Tass ^ | January 18, 2006

[A. Pole]

MOSCOW, January 18 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia has given guarantees to the Hague International Tribunal for War Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia that its ex-leader Slobodan Milosevic would return to The Hague after medical treatment in Moscow. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Wednesday that Russia had submitted “the necessary package of documents” to the International Tribunal.

Based on these documents, the Tribunal will be able to make a decision on “a temporary release of Milosevic for a trip to Russia for medical treatment”, the spokesman said. However he noted that the submission of the documents “does not mean that the International Tribunal will automatically make a decision on a temporary release of Milosevic”. “This issue will be considered by members of the Tribunal in the near future,” he added. According to Kamynin, Milosevic “has also given guarantees to the Tribunal that he will return to The Hague immediately after treatment”.

However prosecutors in The Hague objected to Milosevic’s trip to Moscow for blood vessels treatment. They said their objections were based on the information that Milosevic’s wife, son and brother are living in Russia. The demarche came in the wake of an appeal by Milosevic’s official lawyers to let him go to Moscow for a medical checkup and a course of treatment at Bakulev Cardiologic Institute. Milosevic filed a request for the trip on December 12, saying he would go to Moscow for a period of judges’ winter vacations. He is suffering from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disorders.

Prosecutors claim, however, there is no guarantee that Milosevic will return to The Hague once he gets free, albeit temporarily. They fear he will be deemed incapable of further trips for health reasons once he is in Russia and will not return to The Hague. The prosecutors bolster their fears by citing Milosevic’s refusal to recognise the legitimacy of the Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

International law suggests that a defendant can be set free for a period of time if he or she does not pose danger for victims or witnesses of his or her crimes. Also, the judges want guarantees that Milosevic will return to The Hague before resumption of the trial over him, suspended until January 23. His accusers claim that the guarantees on the part of Russian government will not be sufficient.

[A. Pole]

Show trial bump!

[marron]

As you may know, I'm no fan of Milosevic. But I am even less a fan of the so-called international court in general.

There are three proper ways of dealing with a deposed ruler. (1), he retires to his villa, and stays out of politics. (2), if he is too much of a distraction to remain in the country, he goes into exile. Or (3), if he is a danger to the new order even in exile, you toss him in a dungeon or put him up against a wall.

I would have no problem with (4) a show trial by a fake court, were it not for the unfortunate precedent it sets for our own people. Much better would have been a show trial put on within the country, by his successors. But since they missed their chance for (3) and he probably would never agree to (1), I'm fine with him living out his days in Russia.

[sittnick]

I agree with your post, and it would apply to Pinochet as well.

The Brits probably slow-poisoned Napoleon when he was in custody. What do you think of that straddling of the line? (In Napoleon's case, he had already escaped once.)

[Tailgunner Joe]

Pinochet voluntarily gave up power. Slobo was overthrown by his own people.

[BlackElk]

People who disappeared under Pinochet deserved to disappear lest there be any resurgence of Allendeism. We knew Pinochet. He was a friend of the US. Milosevic is no Pinochet.

For Milosevic, up against the wall!

We should never, however, cooperate with this international criminal court. Even Milosevic deserves a better fate than that. The Romanian dictator Ceaucescu (sp.?) and wife were at least afforded the dignity of being summarily shot to death by the people upon their overthrow. Given their history, it was a touching and sentimental moment as the shots rang out.

[getoffmylawn]

I'd return him to Serbia and let them put him on trial. The kangaroo court at The Hague has nothing on him. I'm sure the people of Serbia could convict Slobo of enough REAL charges to keep him locked up forever.

[sittnick]

I did not mean to imply that Milosevic and Pinochet were in the same league, only that if they are found by their own people to be criminals, that exile or imprisonment is a better way to deal with it than international courts. Marcos, for example, was a thieving turd, and even though he at least wasn't a commie, I do not mind his being held to account for his misdeeds.

[FormerLib]

If it hadn't been for Bill Clinton bombing Serbia, Milosevic would have met the same end at the hands of the Serbian people.

Instead, we have Slobo embarrassing the idiots at the Hague court and two al Qaeda friendly zones of operation in Europe (Bosnia and Kosovo).

[Alexius]

The Russians should give him back to Serbia and let them deal with him. Just as Ante Gotovina should be turned over to the Croats. This whole nonsense about courts in the Hague sets a very dangerous precedence. There are plenty of nutters out there would would put Bush on trial.

[LA-Lawyer]

If he's released, there'll be a plane crash, train derailment, or some other 'accident', or he'll miraculously escape or disappear. The Hague will never be able to conclude their case and there will be no closure for the victims [if convicted] and no exoneration for his supporters [if acquitted]. I don't really believe either side wants this trial to end. Its been going on for, what, over 4 years now? I can't remember what I had for breakfast last week. How is a judge supposed to [fairly] recall what some witness said, his demeanor, etc on the stand 208 weeks ago?

[A. Pole]

The Hague will never be able to conclude their case

I think that the show trial judges and lawyer in Hague will be very happy if their case is forgotten.

and there will be no closure for the victims

The main and largest crime committed during the breakup of Yugoslavia was the massacre of the Serbian Kraina. The victims of it do not need any phony "closure" from kangaroo judges as God Himself is on their side.