Terrorism Trial for Keserović and Dželko Begins Today

(Patria) - The Court of BiH has scheduled the start of trials for Jasmin Keserović and Armen Dželko, accused of terrorism and participation in the war in Syria, in separate proceedings today, confirmed the defense attorney for the accused, Senad Dupovac.

According to the indictment, Keserović left BiH for Syria on January 23, 2013, and became a member of the terrorist organization "Islamic State," which, through daily armed actions, attacks on the population, killings, unlawful detentions, hostage-taking, and other acts, intended to force the legitimate authorities of Syria to change the constitutional order and political regime.

The indictment states that Keserović remained in the ranks of this organization until December 2019, fighting in the cities of Mimbidž, Kobani, Raqqa, and Al-Bab as part of the "Bejt Komandos" unit, which was later renamed "El Aksa."

Keserović is also accused of directly inciting the public to terrorism through media, dressed in a military uniform and armed with an automatic rifle, by attacking and killing the population.

According to the indictment, Armen Dželko left BiH for Syria in early 2013, where he participated in terrorist activities consisting of armed actions, attacks on the population, killings, unlawful detentions, hostage-taking, and other acts.

He was wounded multiple times, and after the defeat and collapse of the "Islamic State" at the end of 2019, he surrendered to the anti-terrorist coalition forces in the city of Baguz, after which he was deported to BiH.

Keserović and Dželko were deported to BiH in December last year and are in custody.

We remind you that on April 30, the HJPC made a new decision that courts will align their work with the decisions of local crisis headquarters and the current epidemiological situation in the area of each institution. Courts will introduce or ease measures based on the daily changes in the epidemiological situation, according to the Decision.

"Court presidents and chief prosecutors are obliged to take synchronized and coordinated measures and liberalize measures in the area of criminal jurisdiction," the HJPC statement reads, adding that court presidents are obliged to introduce full working hours by May 15 for "those who come to work and determine the optimal number of judicial office holders and employees who come to work" in accordance with the available workspace.

"All court presidents and chief prosecutors are obliged to take into account the equal workload of all judicial office holders and employees when making work schedules in accordance with the liberalization of measures they are taking. All judicial institutions are obliged to ensure a sufficient number of protective equipment before liberalizing measures and establishing a new way of working," the HJPC stated.

The Decision also emphasized that hearings can only be organized and scheduled in rooms where social distancing for all participants can be ensured and "constant natural ventilation, taking into account the urgency of the case, the age of the case, and the number of participants in the proceedings."