After reviewing the written reasons given by the Trial Chamber Majority for acquitting Vojislav Šešelj of all charges, my Office has decided to appeal the Judgement. Given the far reaching nature of the errors we have identified in the Majority Judgement, we underscore for the victims of the crimes that the forthcoming appeal is of utmost priority for this Office.
The Mechanism today launched its first online exhibition entitled “A Glimpse into the Archives”.
The purpose of this exhibition is to allow the general public to contextualize, access, and understand the value of the archives of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda (ICTR) and for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which are now in the custody of the Mechanism.
The Mechanism’s President today issued a decision on the "Urgent Request to the President of the MICT to Grant Florence Hartmann Early Release", which was dated 25 March 2016 and transmitted to the Mechanism’s President on 29 March 2016. Ms. Hartmann was granted early release, with the decision effective as soon as practically possible.
Florence Hartman was arrested by UN Security Officers pursuant to an outstanding arrest warrant at the premises of the Mechanism on 24 March 2016.
Following her arrest, her counsel filed a complaint regarding the conditions of her detention in the United Nations Detention Unit. The complaint alleged that Ms Hartmann was being held in isolation and was subject to around the clock monitoring which involved keeping the light on in her room at all times.
Ladislas Ntaganzwa, one of nine ICTR fugitives wanted for trial for crimes committed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, was transferred yesterday by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Rwanda for trial, pursuant to an international warrant of arrest issued by the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT).
On 8 March 2016, the Arusha branch of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) observed International Women’s Day (IWD) 2016 with a series of events to celebrate this year’s IWD global theme, “Pledge for Parity”.
On 29 February 2016, the United Nations Security Council, on the nomination by the UN Secretary-General, appointed Serge Brammertz as Prosecutor of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals for a term effective 1 March 2016 until 30 June 2018.
Prosecutor Brammertz has been serving as the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia since 1 January 2008, a position that he will continue to hold while performing his functions at the Mechanism.
The United Nations Secretary-General has appointed Judge Theodor Meron to a new term as President of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT), effective 1 March 2016. President Meron’s new term will continue until 30 June 2018, subject to his reappointment as a Judge of the Mechanism.
Following the death of Zdravko Tolimir in the UN Detention Unit in Scheveningen on 8 February 2016, an autopsy was conducted by the Dutch authorities as part of the standard procedures mandated under Dutch national law. The Dutch authorities have advised the Mechanism that based on the results of the autopsy it was concluded that Mr. Tolimir died of natural causes.
Mr. Tolimir was sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and was awaiting transfer to a State of enforcement at the time of his death.
