PETRONIJEVIĆ: DAILY ABUSE OF KARADŽIĆ AIMS TO BREAK HIM PSYCHOLOGICALLY

BELGRADE, JUNE 12 /SRNA/ – Lawyer Goran Petronijević told SRNA that the first President of Republika Srpska Radovan Karadžić is currently in relatively more stable health compared to the period when his treatment was withheld, but that prison authorities in the UK’s Isle of Wight facility never miss a day to cause some form of psychological torment aimed at destabilizing him.

He emphasized that Karadžić needs medical care, not prison and torture, and stated that the British, despite frequently speaking about human rights, are now blatantly mocking them. Petronijević said one of the most absurd claims is that Karadžić was accused by prison authorities of planning an escape, which has led to further abuse. "You know what they do to him? They dress him in a humiliating fluorescent tracksuit he has to wear so that everyone can see him, while no one is allowed to approach him. According to their prison regulations, that type of clothing marks a high-risk individual – in this case, allegedly a flight risk," he explained. He added that Karadžić has also been denied the free use of funds from his account to purchase necessary items from the prison commissary. "Due to chronic illnesses – diabetes and prostate issues – he requires a specific diet. Imagine having money in your account but not being allowed to buy what you need, even though those items are available in the commissary," said Petronijević. He added that the justification for such treatment is that spending restrictions are a form of disciplinary action. "For example, when fasting begins and he wants to eat a fasting-appropriate meal, he cannot even meet that basic religious need. And they talk about respecting human rights? That's hypocrisy on such a scale that I’m lost for words," said Petronijević, adding that he is convinced the earlier withholding of medication for seven and twelve days respectively was an attempt to eliminate Karadžić. When asked whether there's any possibility of Karadžić being returned to The Hague, Petronijević said that would be "half a success" compared to his release, particularly considering his total isolation — no visits in four years except from one Orthodox priest from the UK. "According to the rules, you can visit him once a month for up to two hours, yet the Karadžić family is still under British sanctions. The British are the ultimate hypocrites — they invented hypocrisy," he stressed. Petronijević said Karadžić's legal team has repeatedly informed Mechanism President Graciela Gatti Santana about his conditions, and although she did respond when situations became critical, she was often misled by prison officials claiming that lawyers were exaggerating. "I told the judge - even if you're misled by these false reports, you should check in regularly, because had you not intervened previously, he might not be alive today. Every time someone from the Mechanism calls the prison, Karadžić receives his medication within an hour," said Petronijević. He warned that those in The Hague are avoiding responsibility, but if anything happens to Karadžić, they will bear the consequences. "If anything happens to President Karadžić, if God forbid he loses his life given the abuse, hypocrisy, and all else being done to him, it will seriously damage the credibility of the court, the Mechanism, and of course the British as well," he concluded. Radovan Karadžić, the first President of Republika Srpska, is imprisoned in the UK's Isle of Wight facility after being sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hague Tribunal. The prison is known for being one of the worst facilities in the UK and reportedly fails to meet many of the standards common in most European countries.