Declaration of the State Duma
Concerning the inhuman treatment of the political prisoner, Slobodan Milosevic, by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia:
The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation views with deep concern information concerning the sharp deterioration of the health of the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic who is being held in the prison of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague.
According to official sources from The Hague, during the nine months of the process in the case of Slobodan Milosevic (since February 2002) the ICTY sessions have been disrupted four times, which makes 31 working day (without weekends), specifically due to Slobodan Milosevic’s poor health. The lawyers (amici curiae) appointed by ICTY have addressed to the ICTY judges a proposal to make a one year recess in the process in the case of Slobodan Milosevic for the same reason – the prisoner’s poor health.
The arterial hypertension associated with the cardiovascular illness from which Slobodan Milosevic has suffered since before his imprisonment, is an imminent threat to his life. The exhausting ICTY sessions, which are many hours long, the lack of specialized medical aid and the lack of opportunity to get fresh air worsen the health condition of Slobodan Milosevic.
The former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia undergoes a humiliating procedure, which includes being handcuffed every time he is transported from the prison to the court and back.
The State Duma has condemned the actions of the ICTY more than once in the resolutions of:
– June 28, 2001, No.1719-III GD, “On the address of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia concerning the outlawing of the handing over Slobodan Milosevic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia”
– And of February 15, 2002 No.2480-III GD “On the necessity to impose time limits to the works of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia”.
These Resolutions made critical estimates of the ICTY’s work, emphasizing violations of the norms of international humanitarian law and the political character of the ICTY [Hague Tribunal].
In relation to the above-mentioned, the State Duma considers it a priority that political prisoner Slobodan Milosevic undergo appropriate medical examination administered by Yugoslav doctors and other specialists.
The State Duma, in accordance with the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution 37/194 of December 18, 1982 on the Principles of Medical Ethics, determining the role of health care workers, in the first place physicians, in the medical protection of prisoners, requests the Government of the Russian Federation to send to The Hague highly qualified Russian doctors to take part in the medical examination of Slobodan Milosevic.
(Adopted unanimously, December 11, 2002)
Note: For the UN Resolution mentioned above go to http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/37/a37r194.htm
