Russia offers legal aid in case of Serbian radical leader - Foreign Minister

MOSCOW, January 18 - RAPSI. Russia is ready to provide legal assistance in the case of Serbian National Radical Party (SRS) leader Vojislav Seselj, who is tried by the International Criminal Court in Hague for war crimes, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Seselj turned himself in to the Hague in February 2003, but faced the court in November 2007. He remains one of the most popular politicians in Serbia.

"We are ready to render legal assistance if needed, in accordance with the current cooperation agreement with Serbia," Lavrov said.

Seselj stands indicted for persecuting civil population on political, racial or religious grounds, inhumane acts, murder, torture, cruel treatment, wanton destruction of villages.

Seselj was also charged with court contempt on three occasions for disclosing information about protected witnesses.

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was established by the UN Security Counsel to prosecute individuals responsible for war crimes in former Yugoslavia since 1991. The tribunal has prosecuted 161 individuals since it was founded in 1993 and completed cases against 126 of them while 35 cases are still under consideration.