Karadzic: Request for Privileged Conversations

Karadzic wants to be allowed to have cell phone conversations with his Defence attorney, which will not be monitored by workers of the Detention Unit with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, although the Detention Unit’s regulations stipulate that, for security reasons such privileged conversations can only be conducted over landline phones.

The former President of Republika Srpska explained that, considering the fact that his Defence attorney Robinson did not have a landline phone in the Netherlands, he was not able to communicate with him without being monitored by members of the Detention Unit.

“The rule saying that privileged conversations cannot be conducted over cell phones makes no sense in the era of modern communications. (…) The sole purpose of the existing rule is to make sure that my conversations will be monitored by members of the Detention Unit. In my opinion, the violation of the relation between a client and his attorney is much worse than the possibility that some hacker could overhear my conversation via the cell phone,” Karadzic’s motion says.

Karadzic announced that he would complain to the ICTY President in case the Detention Unit rejected his motion.

The Hague Prosecution charges Karadzic with genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war committed in the period from 1992 to 1995. The presentation of evidence related to genocide committed in Srebrenica in 1995 is underway at present.

The next hearing is due to be held on Friday, January 13 this year.D.Dz.