Impunity Watch: Europe

Karadzic Awaits First Court Appearance In The Hague

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Europe's most wanted man has been extradited to The Hague and is currently being held at a UN detention center.  Radovan Karadzic was taken from a Belgrade war crimes court under cover of darkness at approximately 3:45 am on Wednesday morning.  He was then transported by plane to Rotterdam, and subsequently delivered by helicopter to Scheveningen Penetentiary in The Hague, where he will remain throughout his trial.   

On Thursday, Radovan Karadzic will appear before the ICTY for the first time and hear the exact charges against him.  These eleven counts will include charges of genocide and crimes against humanity that are said to have been committed by Karadzic's forces during the horrific war in Bosnia between 1992-1995. 

Karadzic will have the option to enter a plea, or to defer his plea for 30 days at his first appearance.  Although Karadzic's defense strategy is unknown, his legal team has announced that he will defend himself against all charges.  Whether he will represent himself has yet to be decided.  Experts predict that this will not be a quick trial, and that therefore Europe should therefore brace itself for a long and protracted legal battle.  The BBC reports that a lawyer for Mr. Karadzic has said that the defense "will need at least three months for his team to prepare [its] case." 

The world can expect that Karadzic's appearance in court will be in stark contrast to the shocking images depicting his life as a fugitive.  It is said that he has shaved and will appear well-groomed before the tribunal.  Reports indicate that Karadzic now appears confident in his chances, and that while in prison, he will have a cell to himself and access to cable television.  Eventually, he will be allowed to interact with other prisoners, and to receive selected visitors at appointed times. 

Impunity Watch will continue its coverage as more information and developments in these proceedings become available.  Specific information on how Karadzic will plead may be released as early as 10 AM (EST) on Thursday morning.

For more information, please see:

BBC - Karadzic due in war crimes court - 31 July 2008

CNN - Karadzic set to make first court appearance - 30 July 2008

International Herald Tribune - Radovan Karadzic arrives in The Hague for trial at UN war crimes tribunal - 30 July 2008

Mladic’s ‘days numbered’; Norway Not the Safest Haven for War Crimes Suspects; ECHR Overturns Latvian WWII War Crimes Case

by Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BELGRADE, Serbia – While the Hague awaits Radovan Karadzic’s extradition, Serbia and Republika Srpska rumble with the protests of Serbs carrying pictures of Karadich and signs saying “Serb hero” and “We are with you.” 

“Maybe he made some wrong moves, but he was our leader,” says a Serbian English teacher, “and we accepted him.” 

While all eyes focus on Karadzic, his number-one, Ratko Mladic remains at large.  In fact, say some reports, it was Mladic who gave Karadzic away “to save himself” – possibly from appearing before the ICTY.  According to the Daily Telegraph, a source close to the BND reported that “Mladic is determined to avoid going on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at the Hague. . . Instead he wants to face proceedings at a local court in Serbia.”

Mladic, as commander of Karadzic’s military, has been charged by the ICTY with 13 counts of crimes against humanity and violations of the laws of war on the basis of his individual and superior criminal responsibility.  Some of the more notorious instances include the 44-month siege on Sarajevo, the Srebrenica massacre, and generally participating “in a joint criminal enterprise” seeking the “elimination or permanent removal, by force or other means, of Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat, or other non-Serb inhabitants from large areas of [Bosnia and Herzegovia].”  ICTY brought its first indictment against Mladic in 1995, jointly against Karadzic.

While it was expected that Mladic would be arrested before Karadzic due to better intelligence on his whereabouts, it seems clear now that Mladic’s insider support is even stronger than Karadzic’s.  Both men were assumed protected by Serb intelligence officials, but Mladic may also enjoy a shield erected by parts of the Serb army.  Along with the posters, protests, and fliers supporting Karadzic, Mladic’s photograph has been adorned with the words “We will not betray you.”

According to the Daily Telegraph, Serbian intelligence sources report that “the latest analysis is that he is living in an urban environment in Serbia with two security guards who are under orders to shoot him before he is captured.”

Many European officials expect Mladic’s arrest “within weeks.”

“He’s now completely isolated,” said Paddy Ashdown, former Bosnian UN Representative.  “His days must be numbered.”

For more information, please see:

BalkanInsight.com – ‘Mladic Betrayed Karadzic’ reports UK Daily - 24 July 2008

Radio Netherlands - Serbs march in support of Karadzic - 26 July 2008

Southeast European Times – War crimes fugitive: Ratko Mladic - 25 July 2008

Telegraph – Ratko Mladic gave up ally Radovan Karadzic to save himself - 23 July 2008

Telegraph – Radovan Karadzic ally General Ratko Mladic will ‘commit suicide rather than face justice’ – 24 July 2008

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OSLO, Norway – Near the end of August 2008, Norway will begin its first war crimes trial since WWII against a 41-year-old Norwegian citizen charged with rape, torture, illegal internment of civilians and crimes against humanity.  Seeking asylum, the accused came to Norway in 1993 after active service for the Croat HOS, which fought against Serb forces.  Now, further archive checks have raised concern that others came to Norway seeking asylum after committing similar atrocities.

Refugees from the Balkan region were granted group protection during the early 1990s.  According to Aftenposten,  Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reports that around 70 persons granted residence are suspected of war crimes in the Balkans and elsewhere.

"We'll be looking more closely at a handful of cases," said Director of Public Prosecutions Pål Lønseth.  In early July, Lønseth commented: "Norway has been considered by some to be a safe haven for war criminals. This indictment should indicate that this is not the case…We can expect many more such cases in the years to come."

For more information, please see:

Aftenposten – First war crimes trial in Norway since World War II -  - 11 July 2008

Aftenposten – Archive checks reveal more war crimes suspects – 21 July 2008

BIRN – Norway: War Crimes Suspects Held – 10 May 2007

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STRASBOURG, France – On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) overturned a series of judgments made by Latvian courts against Vassili Makarovich Kononov.  Kononov had been accused of war crimes.

Latvia had convicted Kononov, who is now 84, of war crimes for killing nine people and burning buildings in the villiage of Mazie Bati.  His targets were alleged Nazi collaborators who he said “were caught in the crossfire” between his band of resistance fighters and the Nazis.  Other reports indicate that they were deliberately targeted for harboring and accepting Nazi weapons.

Kononov was arrested in 1998 and sentenced to six years in prison.  In 2004, after litigation and appeals, his sentence was reduced, but he filed an appeal at the ECHR. 

The ECHR overturned the rulings in a 4- 3 decision, citing the inappropriate application of international conventions adopted in 1949 and 1977 to Kononov’s actions, which took place in 1944.  It also awarded Kononov 30,000 euros in damages.

For more information, please see:

RIA Novosti – Strasbourg court orders Latvia to compensate WWII veteran – 2 – 24 July 2008

Baltic Times – Latvian war crimes case overturned on technicality – 25 July 2008

The Moscow Times – Latvian World War II Veteran Wins Appeal to Rights Court – 28 July 2008

Europe Prepares For High Profile War Crimes Trial

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - This week's arrest of wanted war crimes fugitive Radovan Karadzic kicked off what could become the world's most important war crimes trial in recent decades.  The ICTY has successfully convicted warriors and paramilitary thugs in the past, but it has yet to bring justice to one of the masterminds behind the slaughter occurring during the Bosnian conflict.  Recall that no verdict was rendered in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic - he died before a verdict could be reached. 

Such an important trial also brings with it a huge wave of anticipation.  There is much speculation as to who will defend Karadzic, and what his defense will be.  CNN reports that Karadzic will defend himself against the charges, and that his lawyer, Sveta Vujacic, will fight his extradition to the ICTY at The Hague. 

Karadzic faces several charges, but experts predict that the most difficult for prosecutors to prove will be genocide.  This is because proving genocide will require prosecutors to establish not only proof of atrocities in the Bosnia war, but also that these killings were the result of an attempt to "destroy in whole or in part a specific group."  In this fashion, prosecutors have to get inside Karadzic's mind and present to the tribunal proof of his intentions - this is no easy task. 

The importance of Karadzic's arrest cannot be underscored enough, yet at the same time, not everyone is optimistic about the outcome of his trial.  Many citizens in Srebrenica admit that they lost some hope in the justice process during the long period it has taken to find Karadzic.  Some feel that the media is now glorifying Karadzic's eccentric tactics to evade justice, and that in the process, the world's attention is being lost where it belongs - on his countless victims. 

In an effort to ease the workload for the ICTY, the UN has extended the court's 2010 closure date to allow Mr. Karadzic's trial to finish. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Court wants exemplary Karadzic trial - 24 July 2008

CNN - Karadzic to defend himself in war crimes court - 24 July 2008

International Herald Tribune - Serb leader's capture brings little solace at site of killings in Bosnia - 25 July 2008

Europe's Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer

BELGRADE, Serbia - Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most wanted-men, was arrested on Monday for genocide and crimes against humanity.  He is charged with the 1995 mass execution of over 7,500 Muslim Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, a massacre that was carried out as part of a plan to terrorize Bosnia's Muslim and Croat population. 

Karadzic was once an ally of Slobodan Milosevic during the Bosnian conflict in the early 1990's.  He went into hiding shortly after the Dayton Peace Accord ended the war in 1995 and has successfully eluded capture ever since - often using elaborate disguises to move throughout the countryside. 

Karadzic has been under surveillance for the past several weeks as the result of a tip from foreign intelligence officials.  He made his first appearance in front of a Serbia war crimes court earlier today, the first step in extradition proceedings that will culminate in him facing justice on the international stage. 

Citizens throughout Sarajevo gathered in the streets and rejoiced in the news that Karadzic has finally been arrested.  His capture may be a sign of Serbia's renewed commitment to hunt down notorious war criminals, a condition set as a prerequisite for their admission to the European Union.   

Ratko Mladic, a senior officer under Karadzic's command, still remains at large and is wanted for his role in the Srebrenica massacre.   

For more information, please see:

BBC - Serbia captures fugitive Karadzic - 22 July 2008

CNN - Bosnia war crime suspect Karadzic arrested - 21 July 2008

Yahoo (AP) - Karadzic: Genocide suspect had long evaded justice - 21 July 2008

Srebrenica Women Barred from Massacre Site; Italian Court Finds Officials Guilty of Protester Mistreatment

by Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KRAVICA, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Around 100 Bosnian Muslim women were barred by police from visiting a Srebrenica massacre site on Tuesday.  Local officials and police said that the women posed a security threat because the locals – Bosnian Serbs – did not want them there. 

The women had brought flowers to lay around the Farmers Association warehouse where their relatives were murdered on July 13, 1995.  Police in the eastern Bosnian village of Kravica not only blocked the entrance of the women, but also of local residents and journalists. 

“We have complaints from one and the other side, which all together creates quite a negative environment,” said Uros Pena, director of the Republika Srpska police.

Indeed, while Bosniaks consider Kravica one of the more significant massacre sites, Serbs also believe that around 49 Serbs were killed and 100 wounded at the same site in 1993 by Bosniaks.  Local papers in the Serb-dominated municipality reported that the visit to the memorial by the Bosnian Muslim women would “irritate” locals.

The head of a Srebrenica women's association, Munira Subasic, told Reuters “They didn't let us pass, they didn't even let us lay flowers . . . It's like it's 1995 all over again, we are on a bus under Serb escort. This is such an injustice, so unbelievable. I cannot even cry."

The Srebrenica survivors instead laid their flowers at a local football field, believed to be another site involved in the 1995 atrocity.

For more information, please see:

BalkanInsight.com - Srebrenica Mourners Barred from Memorial – 15 July 2008

Reuters – Police ban Srebrenica women from massacre site – 15 July 2008

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ROME, Italy - 15 police officers and officials were found guilty of mistreatment and given prison sentences Tuesday (15 July 2008).  Around 45 defendants had been accused of mistreating and, in some cases, torturing protestors of the 2001 G8 meeting in Genoa.

The 15 convicted will not serve any time in prison because the proceedings concluded after the statute of limitations had expired.  However, the convictions will allow victims to seek compensation – perhaps 70,000 euros each – which could cost the Italian government over 15 million euros.   

The protest against the 2001 G8 summit, hosted by PM Burlusconi, attracted thousands of protesters.  Violence erupting in the streets between police forces and the crowd injured hundreds and at least one protester was killed.  Police also raided a high school were protesters were camping and removed the protesters to a temporary prison camp just outside Genoa in Bolzaneto.  Prosecutors alleged that many of the arrested protesters were beaten, made to sing fascist songs, shaved, threatened with rape and sodomy, and made to stand in stress positions for hours.

The lengthiest sentence – 5 years in prison – was handed to Biagio Gugliotta, commander of the camp.  Giacomo Toccafondi, the prison camp’s chief doctor, was given a 14-month sentence for failing to report that some of the prisoners were sprayed with asphyxiating gas.

Of the 252 demonstrators claiming abuse, at least 209 cases are supported by strong evidence of abuses.  The trial came to a conclusion on Tuesday after three years.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Italy officials convicted over G8 – 15 July 2008

Telegraph – Italian police officers found guilty over G8 protest brutality – 16 July 2008

Nazi Hunters Announce They Are Closing In On Doctor Death; Serbia Announces New Pledge To Track Down War Criminals; Bosnia Mass Graves Traded For Cash

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

SANTIAGO, Chile - Officials from the Simon Wiesenthal Center have announced that new evidence offers a strong showing that their most-wanted Nazi war criminal, Aribert Heim, may be hiding in southern Chile or Argentina. 

Heim is said to be responsible for the gruesome murders of hundreds of holocaust victims during the conflict in World War II.  Using his knowledge of anatomy as a physician, Heim slaughtered his victims in the name of mere experimentation.  For example, his own records show that he murdered hundreds of his victims by injecting gasoline, phenol, water, and poison into their hearts to see which killed them the fastest.  He is also known to have carried out amputations on prisoners without anaesthetic to see how much pain they could tolerate before losing consciousness.

Heim was originally captured by American forces shortly after the war, but was suspiciously released soon afterward.  In 1962, he was tipped off that he might be prosecuted for war crimes, and he has been on the run ever since.

Efraim Zuroff, the Director of the Wiesenthal Center in Israel, remarked that while hundred of war criminals still remain at large, if they can only get Heim, their mission will have been a success.  Undoubtably, Heim's capture would do much to ease the lingering pain of Holocaust survivors and their families in Europe.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune - Wiesenthal Center officials say evidence suggests 'Dr. Death' in Chile or Argentina - 9 July 2008

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BELGRADE, Serbia - Snezana Malovic announced yesterday that the capture of wanted war criminals Ratko Mladvic, Radovan Karadzic, and Goran Hadzic was a priority for Serbia's new government.  She said that "the arrests are a necessity, the need and the only way to protect basic human values...only in such a way can a country become an equal member of the international community."

Mladvic and Karadzic are wanted on charges of genocide for orchestrating the the massacre of over 8,000 muslims from Srebrenica in July, 1995.

In the past several years, Serbia has been criticized for not putting enough effort into capturing these criminals.  Some believe that Serbian officials might even be shielding these men from justice.

Hopefully, this new intiative will culminate in the arrests of these individuals.

For more information, please see:

The Independent - Nazi war crimes: The Hunt for Doctor Death - 10 July 2008

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SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Bosnia's 1992-1995 war resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 people, many of whom still remain buried in unmarked mass graves throughout the countryside.  For some people, the aftermath of this war has generated a source of revenue.

While some Bosnians have been happy to divulge information about the locations of mass graves to family members and authorities, others want cash before they do so.  Charges range from as little as a few hundred dollars to more than ten-thousand. 

For survivors who are still looking for loved ones, this is a very frustrating process.  Nevertheless, the location of their remains is an important step in closing the chapter of this horrific war in Bosnia's history. 

For more information, please see:

Yahoo (AP) - Tips on mass Bosnia war graves traded for cash - 10 July 2008

Court Rejects Case Against UN on Eve of Srebrenica Massacre Anniversary

By Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The case brought by relatives of Bosnian Muslims against the United Nations (UN) and the Netherlands was partially dismissed by a Dutch court today.  The Court ruled that it has no jurisdiction to hear a case brought against the UN, which has legal immunity from state courts under its Charter.  The civil case against the Netherlands will proceed, however.

The suit was brought by "Mothers of Srebenica" to seek compensation for the failure of UN and Dutch troops to prevent the Srebrenica genocide of thousands of Bosnian Muslims in the UN "safe zone" in 1995.  It is alleged that UN peace keepers looked on while Muslim men and boys were rounded up by Serb troops, and that in some cases the Dutch army may have helped separate Muslim men and women.

The Dutch government has argued that its troops were abandoned by the UN, and that the Serbs bear ultimate responsibility for the massacre.

Axel Hagedorn, attorney for the victim's families, has stated the case may be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights once the civil suit has concluded.  "The court ruled that the U.N. has immunity, even if a genocide has happened, and that is in our opinion exactly what you can't accept," he said.

For more information, please see:

AP - Dutch court rules in Srebrenia civil suit - 10 July 2008

Reuters - Dutch court rejects bid to sue UN over Srebrenica - 10 July 2008

ICTY Appeals Chamber Acquits Bosnian Muslim; Italy to Fingerprint Ethnic Group; UK's Extension of Terrorist Detention Continues to Spark Protests; Belarus Bomb Injures 50

By Sarah Benczik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Appeals Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Thursday (3 July 2008) acquitted Naser Oric of alleged crimes committed in Srebrenica.

Oric was convicted in an ICTY trial in June 2006 for having failed to prevent crimes committed in Srebrenica including the deaths of six civilians, cruel treatment of prisoners and the destruction of 12 Serb villages.  Oric was the Bosnian Muslim commander of the Srebrenica forces in 1992-1993.

Appeals Chamber presiding judge Wolfgang Schomberg stated, “The appeals chamber has no doubt that grave crimes were committed against Serbs detained in Srebrenica . . . However, proof that crimes have occurred is not sufficient to sustain a conviction of an individual for these crimes."

The judgment has received sharp criticism from Serbians, many of whom believe ICTY favors Bosnian Muslim causes.  Serbian Srebrenica Commander Radoslav Krstic is currently serving a 35 year sentence, and Serbian General Ratko Mladic, charged with genocide for the Srebrenica killings and still at large, is one of ICTY’s most wanted.   

The Srebrenica area is perhaps one of the most notorious sites of grave crimes committed during the Balkan war.  According to Serbians, more than 3,000 Serbs were killed in the area from 1992-1993.  Bosnian Muslims claim that, perhaps in retaliation, more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed after the town fell to Serb forces in 1995.

For more information, please see:

AP – UN appeals court acquits Bosnian Muslim war hero – 3 July 2008

Adnkronos International Italia – Hague war crimes court acquits Srebrenica Muslim commander – 3 July 2008

Southeast European Times – Serbs angered by ICTY overturn of Oric conviction – 4 July 2008

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ROME, Italy – Italy’s plan to fingerprint all Roma and Sinti people living in camps in Italy has raised sharp criticism from Human rights groups and Italian political leaders alike.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has defended the census plan as necessary to guarantee the security and safety of Italian citizens. Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the census would put an end to illegal camps, and that children would also be fingerprinted "to prevent phenomena such as begging," adding that in many cases, people are living in camps in "sub-human conditions where children are forced to live with rats."

According to the BBC, Amos Luzzatto, the former president of Italy's Union of Jewish Communities, said the measure was a form of "ethnic surveying":  "You start like this then you move on to the exclusion from schools, separated classes and widespread discrimination," he said.  Recalling how Jews, Roma and other minorities were targeted during Italy's years of fascism, he accused the country of having "lost its memory."

Former political leader Rosy Bindi said fingerprinting the children would lead to an “ethnic register.”
Other organizations, including UNICEF and a Catholic human rights group, have raised similar concerns. 

The Roma and Sinti people, also known as “nomads” or “gypsies,” currently live in about 700 camps throughout Italy.  It is estimated that these camps are populated by more than 160,000 people, although an exact number is unknown.  It is also estimated that well over half those living in the camps are Italian citizens, while about a fifth of the population are immigrants from neighboring countries in Eastern Europe.

For more information, please see:    

BBC – Italy Fingerprinting plan criticized – 26 June 2008

Deutsche Welle – Italy Attacked Over Plan to Fingerprint Roma and Sinti – 4 July 2008

International Herald Tribune – Italy assailed over plan to fingerprint Gypsies – 3 July 2008

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LONDON, United Kingdom - The UK House of Lords will this week consider extending the 28-day pre-charge detention of terrorism suspects to 42 days.

The extension, originally proposed by UK Home Secretary Jaqui Smith in 2007, was passed by the UK House of Commons on 11 June 2008 in a 315-306 vote.  The 42-day detention applies to suspects arrested in cases of “grave and exceptional” terrorist threats.

While the amendment has been supported by political leaders including UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former PM Tony Blair, it has also met strong opposition from rights groups and political leaders such as former UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith and European rights commissioner Thomas Hammarberg.  The passage of the amendment through the House of Commons led one member, David Davis, to resign. 

Last week, Human Rights Watch joined the opposition voices, issuing a report condemning the 42-day detention as “unnecessary, disproportionate and counter-productive.”

Its report found the current 28-day period "already violates the right to liberty under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," and that cautioned that "…counter-terrorism measures that violate human rights undermine a government's moral legitimacy and damage its ability to win the battle for 'hearts and minds' that prime minister Gordon Brown has acknowledged to be central to long-term success in countering terrorism."

For more information, please see:

BBC – David Davis resigns from Commons – 13 June 2008

The Guardian – Human rights body condemns counter-terrorism bill – 4 July 2008

The Jurist – UK PM defends 42-day terrorism detention bill, security proposals – 17 June 2008

The Jurist – UK Commons approves 42-day terrorism detention without charge limit - 11 June 2008

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MINSK, Belarus – The Belarus Health Ministry has estimated that over 50 people were injured by a homemade bomb that exploded at an Independence Day concert in Minsk.

The bomb exploded at 12:30 a.m. near the Hero City World War II monument in Minsk during an all-night concert which Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko was attending. Thus far there are no reported claims of responsibility, and it is not clear whether the attack was an assassination attempt.

While three people are in “grave condition,” there are currently no casualties from the explosion.  Police later discovered another unexploded bomb in the vicinity believed to be identical to the one detonated.  The homemade bombs were packed with hardware, and doctors have reported removing nuts and bolts from victim’s bodies.

President Lukashenko has announced that he does not believe the bomb was aimed at him and that he would not use the bombing as an excuse to get tougher on the opposition forces: “We do not plan a policy of tightening the screws after the incident,” he said.

The Independence Day holiday commemorates the day in 1944 when the Soviet army drove Nazi forces out of Minsk. According to the AP, prior to Lukashenko's taking power, Belarus had celebrated Independence Day on July 27 to mark its 1990 declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union.

For more information, please see:

AP – Belarus bomb explosion wounds more than 50 – 4 July 2008

AP – Belarus president: Bomb not aimed at me – 5 July 2008

The Washington Post – Bomb Blast Near President – 4 July 2008

Explosions Rock Georgian Separatist Region Abkhazia; Serbs Create New Assembly in Kosovo

by Dan Forrest
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Europe

SUKHUMI, Georgia - Six people were wounded on Monday in two separate explosions in the capital of the Georgian separatist region Abkhazia.  The internationally unrecognized region's leader, Sergei Bapash, blamed the blasts on Georgia's government, as says that Abkhazia's border with Georgia will now be indefinitely closed.

Just one day earlier on Sunday, a blast wounded several citizens in the resort town of Gagri.  Bapash blames Georgia for that attack as well. 

"They [Georgia] could not frighten us with war, they could not frighten us with political pressure, now they want to frighten us with explosions," he announced. 

These two attacks are significant because they represent the growing tension between Georgia and Abkhazia over its territory.  Many of Abkhazia's residents maintain strong ties to Russia, creating a delicate political situation between Georgia, Abkhazia, and Russia.  In the not-to-distant past, Georgia has accused Russia of supporting Abkhazia's bid for independence.   

These attacks also represent growing concern over impunity developing in the region.  If war between Georgia and Abkhazia breaks out, and many believe that it could be sparked by even a single attack - many innocent citizens, both Georgian and Russian alike, will once again face oppression in the region, just as they did in the past before the separatist war in the 1990's. 

Additionally, if the border remains closed, this could lead to an oppressive humanitarian crisis.  "It will be a humanitarian catastrophe if the border is closed.  Thousands of Georgians in Abkhazia cross the border to get pensions, do their shopping and work," Sasha Utiashvili, an Interior Ministry Spokesman commented. 

Georgia's officials have yet to comment on the latest attacks.  They have in the past denied allegations that they are about to retake Abkhazia by force. 

For more information, please see:

CNN - Six wounded as blasts rock separatist Georgian region - 30 June 2008

Guardian - Abkhazia blames Georgia for bomb blasts - 30 June 2008

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MITROVICA, Kosovo - Serbians living in Kosovo now have an assembly that was set up today in Mitrovica defiance of the ethnic Albanian government in Kosovo.  The new assembly comes as the result of elections that took place in May, elections declared to be illegal by both Kosovo and the U.N.

The assembly consists of 45 elected members who say they will coordinate with officials in Belgrade to fight to retake Kosovo. 

It is not known what the effect of this new assembly will be. It may provide Serbs in Kosovo with an outlet to channel their anger and frustration responsibly, but it may also turn into an organized movement that could lead to additional violence between Kosovo and Serbia in the future. 

For more information, please see:

BBC - Kosovo Serbs launch new assembly - 28 June 2008

Reuters - Kosovo Serbs to form parliament, rejecting new state - 26 June 2008