(WiPC/IFEX) – On 21 October 2000, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica announced that he had initiated procedures to release the imprisoned poet and doctor Flora Brovina, who is serving a twelve-year sentence for “terrorism”. However, on 26 October, the outgoing minister of justice refused to accept the initiative and Brovina remains imprisoned. In a letter to […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – On 21 October 2000, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica announced that he had initiated procedures to release the imprisoned poet and doctor Flora Brovina, who is serving a twelve-year sentence for “terrorism”. However, on 26 October, the outgoing minister of justice refused to accept the initiative and Brovina remains imprisoned.
In a letter to Kostunica, Justice Minister Jojic stated that there were no “reasons to start with the amnesty procedure” adding that “the authorised court in Nis should take care of the Brovina case and repeat the trial in order to establish the truth and make a legal decision”. A new cabinet is due to be installed within a few days, which will include a new justice minister who may be more open to the prospect of an amnesty for Brovina.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Brovina has stated that she will refuse to leave prison unless all other ethnic Albanians detained in Serbia are released. Some 900 Kosovo Albanians are said to be held in Serbia, and international press reports suggest that President Kostunica will propose to the Yugoslav parliament that there be a general amnesty for them within the coming weeks.
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His Excellency Vojislav Kostunica
President of Yugoslavia
Savezna Skupstina
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Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
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