Appeal lodged to delay Karadzic extradition, says brother

13 April 2012

Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has filed an appeal to delay his extradition to The Hague, his brother Luka said yesterday.


Karadzic, who was arrested last week after 11 years in hiding, is being held in a Belgrade prison after a UN tribunal indicted him for crimes against humanity and genocide over the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica.

Luka said: 'Of course we have appealed, the appeal was filed by (lawyer) Svetozar Vujacic.

Appeal: Radovan Karadzic seen here attending a health conference in January

Appeal: Radovan Karadzic seen here attending a health conference in January

Luka Karadzic: Says an appeal against the extradition of his brother has been lodged

Luka Karadzic: Says an appeal against the extradition of his brother has been lodged

'I cannot tell you where it was sent from or when it will be received by the special court.'

Once the appeal is received, a panel of judges has three days to rule on it.

If the appeal is rejected, and the Serbian government formally approves the extradition, Karadzic can be sent to The Hague almost immediately.

In theory, the panel of judges could accept Karadzic's appeal and reject the extradition order, but Serbian officials say this is unlikely.

Karadzic's arrest and delivery to The Hague is key to Serbia's ties with the European Union.

Karadzic and his military chief Ratko Mladic were indicted in 1995 for planning the massacre of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica and the 43-month siege of Sarajevo, where 11,000 people died from mortars, sniper fire, malnutrition and illness.

Karadzic has maintained his innocence, accusing the Hague court of being biased against Serbs.

Hardline nationalists agree, and have called a mass protest this week against his arrest and extradition.

Local media have reported that death threats were made against politicians blamed for his arrest, such as pro-Western President Boris Tadic.

News of the appeal came as it was revealed the 63-year-old was captured 14 months ago by armed police in Vienna but freed after officers were fooled by his disguise and fake passport.

Vesna Jancovic, who took him in as a lodger for eight months, said police raided her bar in the Austrian capital while hunting for a suspect in a shooting over a lost card game.

Although Karadzic was questioned for two hours, he was later released.

Protesters in Belgrade on Sunday called for Radovan Karadzic's release

Protesters in Belgrade on Sunday called for Radovan Karadzic's release

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