INHUMANE TREATMENT OF MLADIĆ, BASIC PRISON RULES NOT BEING MET

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 17 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Justice Goran Selak stated that it is evident that General Ratko Mladić is being treated inhumanely in detention in The Hague and that basic European prison rules are not being met.

“These so-called international institutions, when they come to visit BiH, demand that we comply with these standards, yet there is an evident violation of rights when it comes to our people serving detention or prison sentences in certain tribunals,” Selak said at a press conference following a session of the Republika Srpska Government in Banja Luka. Republika Srpska Minister of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons Protection Radan Ostojić stated that General Mladić’s health condition is extremely concerning, adding that it would be humane to at least allow a team of Serb doctors to examine him, determine his condition, and propose adequate treatment. “The actions of the competent authorities in this regard within the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals do not surprise us at all. There have already been similar responses regarding his release and examination on the territory of Serbia, despite all the guarantees that were provided,” Ostojić said, commenting on the fact that the Mechanism did not even provide a concrete response to SRNA’s question as to whether it would consider allowing General Mladić to receive treatment in Serbia given his deteriorating health and the lack of adequate treatment in The Hague. He added that he does not expect anything positive from officials within the Mechanism. “We are monitoring the situation, praying for improvement, but what we hear from direct sources is that the situation is extremely worrying,” Ostojić said. Serbia’s Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić had earlier once again called on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague to allow treatment of General Ratko Mladić in Serbia, warning that any further delay could have unforeseeable consequences for his health and life. General Ratko Mladić recently suffered a minor stroke and is now in very serious condition, his son Darko Mladić told SRNA. General Mladić has suffered multiple strokes and has serious cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, neurological damage, as well as kidney problems.