RYZHKOV CALLS FOR 1 YEAR RECESS IN MILOSEVIC "TRIAL"
SLOBODA / Freedom Association - June 16, 2003
Chairman of Duma committee on Yugoslavia
proposes to suspend hearings in the Hague Tribunal for one year
2003.06.11/19:34
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RIAN
Chairman of the State Duma's special committee on Yugoslavia
Nikolai Ryzhkov has proposed suspending hearings of the case of former
Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic in the Hague Tribunal for a year.
He voiced his opinion on Wednesday at a press conference in the State Duma
after his visit to The Hague, where on June 6th he met Milosevic in prison.
Ryzhkov said a break was necessary because of the ex-president's health. Also,
Milosevic needs time to thoroughly prepare for the hearings and for defence.
By January-February 2004 the Hague tribunal intends to finish hearing of
witnesses for the prosecution, according to the chairman. By now it has listened
to about 180 witnesses, other 200 are yet to speak. The prosecution's documents
exceed 400,000 pages, he said. Milosevic needs a break, as having refused
services of lawyers he defends himself on his own and thus has enormous load
preparing for the hearings that take place five times a week, Ryzhkov explained.