Karadzic Calls for OHR to Help Locate Documents

Radovan Karadzic has asked the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, to call on the OHR to help him get documents from Bosnia and Herzegovina which he considers relevant for his defence.

The Chamber proposed a February 15 hearing to discuss documents the indictee has requested since he was arrested that have still not been delivered to him. Representatives from different countries should be present at the hearing.

“I received six documents from Bosnia, some quite useful. But I need many more... I suggest that an official from the Office of the High Representative, OHR, along with a government representative, be invited to the hearing since the OHR has the power to make any state institution comply,” Karadzic said.

Karadzic has requested documents from different countries, including the US, France, Germany, Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For some of these requests, he has received replies or decided to withdraw the request. Some are still pending.

The Chamber will invite, among others, a representative from Germany since, as was stated in the courtroom, Germany has refused to hand over most of the documents Karadzic requested. German officials have claimed that they belong to a category they do not consider relevant for this case. 

Radovan Karadzic, who was arrested in July 2008 in Belgrade, was the president of Republika Srpska and the supreme commander of its armed forces from 1992 to 1995. He has been charged by the ICTY with genocide committed in Srebrenica and ten other municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has also been charged with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war during the course of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Radovan Karadzic appeared once again alone in the courtroom, saying that he is never alone but that “somebody is always here in spirit”. He announced that he continues to act as his own defence counsel.

Richard Harvey, who was appointed by the court as Karadzic's defence attorney, followed the status conference from the public galleries. He refused to be in the courtroom without either the approval of Karadzic or a final decision by the Tribunal.

Harvey was appointed in November last year, but Karadzic appealed the decision twice. The Tribunal is still considering his appeal.  

Karadzic's trial officially began in October 2009, but he refused to attend, claiming he was not ready. The Chamber allowed the prosecution to give its introductory arguments without the defendant in the courtroom. However, after Karadzic appealed, the Trial Chamber decided in November to continue with the trial on March 1 with the defence's introductory arguments, which should last two days.

Karadzic said today that he would ask for a new date to continue the trial, and the Chamber decided to allow him to submit a written motion making the request.

In the first month, the trial should be held three times a week, the Chamber announced today.