Kadri Veseli’s Request for Temporary Release Rejected

The Trial Panel has rejected the request submitted by Kadri Veseli’s defence for his temporary release.

In its decision, the Trial Panel assessed that the average period for reviewing and preparing judgments at international criminal tribunals is 395.2 days. It said efforts are being made to deliver a decision in this case without delay.

“The Trial Panel acknowledges that Mr Veseli has been in pre-trial detention for a considerable period of time and that the trial in this case has been lengthy. As it has previously stressed, the Trial Panel is acting as expeditiously as possible to issue the judgment without unnecessary delays.

The Trial Panel notes that the average time required for the review and drafting of judgments at international and internationalized criminal tribunals that have dealt with cases of this nature has been 395.2 days. It also notes that the International Criminal Court has set a target for first-instance judgments to be issued within 10 months of the date of closing statements,” the decision states.

In its request for temporary release, Veseli’s defence also raised family and emotional concerns, arguing that procedures for family visits to The Hague take time and impose financial costs on them.