RUSSIAN PUBLIC COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENSE OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC
Moscow, 18 September 2003
The
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague
has made a decision to provide the former President of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, the political prisoner Slobodan Milosevic, with only three months
to prepare his defense. It is an outrageous, scandalous decision. It is a
direct violation of the international law, which presumes the equality of
sides in a court process.
As widely known, the ICTY prosecutors have been collecting the evidence
for more than four years. In that work hundreds of the ICTY employees took
part. And now it is decided that President Milosevic has to prepare his
defense in only three months. He has to collect evidence and to communicate
with his witnesses while being in a prison cell. That is complete absurdity.
The particular cynicism of the ICTY behavior is seen in the fact that
Slobodan Milosevic still doesn’t receive a qualified medical aid, despite
the fact that his health condition raises the most serious concern.
All
of this is taking place parallel to practically complete isolation of
President Milosevic from his political allies in Yugoslavia and from his
family. As known, the persecution of the members of Mr. Milosevic`s
family under false excuses has deprived his wife and son of the
possibility to visit him at the Hague prison.
We
strongly condemn the ongoing attempt of political slaughter of the Serbian
leader and the persecution of his family members.
We
demand the adjournment of the trial for two years, so that President Milosevic
can prepare his defense in an appropriate way.
We insist on his release from detention for the recuperation of his health and for more effective preparation of defense.
Chairman of the Committee
Alexander Zinoviev
1. A. A. Zinovyev, philosopher, writer, professor of the Moscow State University
2.
S. N. Baburin, doctor of law, President of the Russian All-peoples’
Union
3.
N. M. Bezborodov, general, Deputy of the State Duma
4.
V. I. Varenikov, general, Hero of the Soviet Union
5.
V. N. Ganichev, writer, President of the Writers’ Union of Russia
6.
S. A. Glotov, doctor of law, Director of the Institute for Human Rights
7.
V. A. Dzhanibekov, cosmonaut, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Member of
the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
8.
N. I. Doroshchenko, writer, Secretary of the Board of the Writers’
Union of Russia
9.
E. G. Drapeko, actress, Deputy of the State Duma
10.
L. V. Zaitseva, People’s
Artist of Russia
11.
O. N. Zarudnaya,
Vice-President of the Union of Slavonic Journalists
12.
M. A. Zemskov,
Editor-in-chief of the “Patriot” magazine
13.
N. N. Izvekov, Member of
the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences (for the history of
international relations and foreign policy of Russia)
14.
V. M. Klikov, sculptor,
President of the International Fund for Slavonic Literacy and Culture
15.
N. I. Kondratenko, Memer
of the Council of Federation
16.
M. P. Lobanov, writer
17.
J. M. Loshchits, writer
18.
M. I. Nozhkin, poet,
People’s Artist of Russia
19.
G. V. Osipov, Member of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Institute for Socio-political
Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences
20.
A. A. Prokhanov,
Editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Zavtra” (Tomorrow)
21.
V. S. Safronchuk,
ambassador, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations 1987-1992
22.
V.
N. Strakhov, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the
Geophysical Institute „O. J. Shmit”
23.
V. V. Chikin,
Editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Sovietskaya Rossiya” (Soviet Russia)
24.
N. D. Yakovleva, President
of the Patriotic Alliance of Women
YOUR HELP
The work for the defense of Slobodan Milosevic totally depends on your donations.
For more details, see: http://www.sloboda.org.yu/finappeal.htm
Send a check to our address:
SLOBODA
Rajiceva 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, Yugoslavia
or transfer your donation to our account using the instructions at: http://www.sloboda.org.yu/pomocdet.htm