The State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday refuted all accusations by Croatian war veteran Tihomir Purda's defence team about "legal violence" being conducted against their client.
The court issued a press release in response to claims by lawyers Josip Muselimovic and Ana Primorac that the ruling by the trial chamber approving Purda's extradition to Serbia to face war crimes charges was unlawful.
The court said that first-instance rulings should not be subject to comments and that the lawyers should know that the only correct approach is to apply adequate remedy at law.
The court said that statements by the defence team can be viewed as an attempt at exerting pressure on the judiciary at the time when the appellate chamber should decide on the first-instance ruling, and criticised the lawyers for their unfair conduct.
It warned the lawyers that their behavior could heighten tensions and harm the reputation of and trust in the State Court, adding that it respected the rights which Purda can exercise under the law and conventions.
The two lawyers criticised the court for ignoring the fact that Serbia's request for Purda's extradition was based only on an alleged confession made under duress while Purda was held in prisoner of war camps in Serbia.
Purda has been held in extradition custody in Zenica, central Bosnian since his arrest at the northern border crossing of Orasje on 5 January on an international warrant issued by Serbia.
