Ratko Mladić requests postponement of sentencing

The defense of former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) Ratko Mladić has requested the Hague Tribunal to postpone the sentencing, scheduled for November 22, until the accused is examined by a team of Serbian doctors.

Mladić's lawyers, Branko Lukić and Dragan Ivetić, have asked the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to postpone the sentencing of the former commander of the VRS Main Staff and to suspend the proceedings to determine whether Mladić is medically fit for trial, BIRN reported, citing NAP.

The defense lawyers requested that Mladić be examined by Serbian doctors - a neurologist and a cardiologist - in the week beginning November 13, and that the sentencing be postponed until they write their report.

"Medical findings show a serious danger of illnesses that would prevent Mladić's ability to participate in the proceedings, meaning that participation in the proceedings would further impair his health, to the extent that death is risked," the submission states.

The defense reiterates in the submission that the Tribunal's registry and detention unit are "refusing to cooperate" and to provide them with all medical documentation.

The Tribunal's registry announced last month that, contrary to the Defense's claims, the accused had been provided with all medical documentation regarding Mladić's illness and treatment in the court detention and hospitals in The Hague.

Mladić's lawyers stated that this was "untrue".

The defense recently requested that Mladić be released temporarily to Russia, claiming he was treated inadequately in The Hague. The Trial Chamber rejected this request, concluding that Mladić had been treated correctly and in accordance with medical standards in The Hague. The main reason for the rejection was the judges' conviction that it was not certain that Mladić would return from temporary release, despite the guarantees of the Russian authorities, given that he had been on the run for 16 years before his arrest.

The defense lawyers have indicated that they will request that Mladić be released for treatment in Serbia, as they have requested and received state guarantees from the authorities in Belgrade for temporary release.

Before his arrest in late May 2011, Mladić had survived three strokes, and since then he has been transferred to the Hague hospital "Bronovo" several times for examinations and minor interventions. In June 2013, Mladić thanked the Tribunal and its medical staff in the courtroom for "saving his life" and "pulling him out of the grave".

According to the Defense, however, Mladić's health condition is constantly deteriorating, and due to the risk of a new stroke or heart attack, hospital treatment is necessary.

Mladić is awaiting sentencing in detention on charges of genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout BiH, which in six municipalities reached the scale of genocide, terrorizing the population of Sarajevo, and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.

The trial began in 2012, and the sentencing is scheduled for November 22 of this year.