 HLC ATTORNEY ARRESTED ON HIGHWAY AFTER
VISITING DETAINED CLIENTS
December 4, 1999
Humanitarian Law Center demands information from serbian
ministry of interior on arrest of its representative Attorney Teki Bokshi, a
representative of the Kosovo branch of the Humanitarian Law Center, was arrested in
Serbia, on the highway between Sremska Mitrovica and Belgrade on 3 December 1999 at 1400
hours. Mr. Bokshi was arrested in the presence of two colleagues, Mr. Mustafa Radoniqi and
Mr. Ibish Hoti. All three Kosovo Albanian attorneys were returning to Belgrade after
visiting clients detained in the Sremska Mitrovica Detention Center.
The three attorneys were travelling on the highway to
Belgrade in the HLC”s vehicle when they stopped in response to a sign from an official
vehicle, a grey Mercedes with official license plates of the Ministry of Interior. Three
police in civilian clothing emerged from the vehicle and immediately took the keys of the
HLC vehicle from its driver, Mr. Radoniqi. Police demanded the identity documents of Mr.
Hoti and returned them to him. Police demanded and retained the identity documents of Mr.
Radoniqi. Police also demanded and retained the attorneys” mobile telephone, which
happened to ring at the time of the arrest.
When police demanded his documents, Mr. Bokshi showed the
police his attorney”s credentials and explained that he had left his identity documents
at the Belgrade hotel where he is registered. Police examined Mr. Bokshi's credentials and
ordered him to accompany them to the hotel in order to pick up his identity documents.
Police ordered the other attorneys to wait in the vehicle, the keys to which remained and
remain in possession of the police.
Mr. Radoniqi and Mr. Hoti remained on the highway until
1700 hrs. On learning of the arrest, the HLC”s executive director appealed to the
Ministry of the Interior in Belgrade for an explanation of the reasons for the arrest of
Mr. Bokshi. At this writing, the HLC is awaiting the Ministry”s response.
Natasa Kandic
Executive Director |
