Branimir Glavas Released from Custody
Sarajevo | 15 May 2009 |

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decided to release Branimir
Glavas from custody, following an appeal by his defence attorney.

However the extradition procedures continue, meaning the war crimes
indictee may be extradited Croatia.

The court's decision was given prior to the expiration of the 48-hour
legal deadline for the Criminal Appellate Chamber of the State Court
to render its decision.

“It has been determined that Glavas is a citizen of Bosnia and
Herzegovina with permanent residence in Ljubuski. It has also been
determined that his release will not interfere with the further
extradition procedure,” said Manuela Hodzic, spokesperson of the Court
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a statement to Balkan Insight.

Glavas, who was sentenced by a first-instance verdict in the Republic
of Croatia to 10 years' imprisonment for war crimes committed in
Osijek in 1991, was arrested in the vicinity of Kupres, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, on May 13. The arrest was made on the basis of an
Interpol warrant issued by Croatia.

The warrant was issued after Glavas had failed to appear at a hearing
before the County Court in Zagreb, at which he was supposed to hear
the verdict. Croatia is now asking the BiH authorities to extradite
him.

Glavas was ordered into custody on May 14 in Sarajevo. His defence
attorney, Nikica Grzic, filed an appeal shortly after the custody
order was pronounced.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered Glavas into custody after
determining that he "obviously filed a request for Bosnian citizenship
with the aim of evading trial and the eventual consequences of the
verdict for war crimes".

Glavas obtained Bosnian citizenship on October 22, 2008.

Glavas' defence attorney, Nikica Grzic, said the explanation of the
Court decision contained "political, not legal statements".

"It is not in question that Glavas is a citizen of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The extradition procedure is exclusive and it pertains to
foreign citizens only. My client is therefore unlawfully detained,"
Grzic told the media.