Serbia Accused of Ignoring Hague Monitor

The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals' monitor, Dagmara Albrecht, said Serbia is ignoring questions about the case against Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Seselj and four other party members. They are charged with contempt of court. The case was transferred to Serbia in 2024.

Case Background

The case against Seselj and his followers relates to his 15-year trial in The Hague for wartime crimes. The indictment charges them with interfering with the administration of justice and disclosing information in violation of court orders. Seselj already has a conviction for inciting crimes with his wartime speeches and was sentenced to ten years in prison in April 2018.

Monitor's Efforts

Dagmara Albrecht noted that she requested information regarding the status of the pending preliminary matter in the Seselj case, but has not received any response. She contacted the Ministry of Justice and Prosecutor's Office for War Crimes in late April and again on May 18, informing them of her intention to conduct a monitoring mission to Serbia.

Key points

• Vojislav Seselj and four other party members are charged with contempt of court.
• The case was transferred to Serbia in 2024.
• Dagmara Albrecht, the International Residual Mechanism's monitor, has not received a response to her requests for information.
• Seselj was sentenced to ten years in prison in April 2018 for inciting crimes with his wartime speeches.
• He has been charged with contempt of court several times by the Hague-based tribunal.
• A case against Seselj and Radical Party colleagues Vjerica Radeta and Petar Jojic is still ongoing in The Hague.