The Hague Tribunal dismissed the appeal of the Defense of the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) Ratko Mladic in which he indicated that the evidentiary procedure was closed without a good explanation.
In the decision that was signed by Presiding Judge Alphons Orie, it is stated that the Council “requested confirmation from the Defense that there are no more evidence submissions, after which it responded to the comments of the Defense and explained why they are not affecting the closure of the evidentiary proceedings”.
“Although the Defense has the right to disagree with the decision of the Council, there is no basis in the Defense’s claim that the Council has not given a clear explanation,” as stated in the decision of Orie.
The Trial Chamber announced on the 16th of August that the presentation of evidence of Mladic’s Defense was completed.
Mladic’s lawyers then appealed emphasizing that the Council ordered the closure of the evidentiary proceedings, although the Defense said that all the evidence have not been adduced four times.
“If the evidentiary proceedings close despite the objections of the Defense, then they must make an argument which has a legal basis. With this submission, the Defense requests an explanation of this issue that will include a legal basis for the unilateral decision of the Council. The Defense repeats that they are not finished with the evidences and that they will consider every decision to end the presentation of evidence by clear violation of the right to a fair trial,” as stated by the lawyers.
Mladic is charged with genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of Muslims and Croats throughout the territory of BiH – which in some municipalities reached the scale of genocide, the shelling of Sarajevo and taking UNPROFOR members for hostages.
Mladic’s trial started in May 2012.
(Source: klix.ba)
