Alongside the suspension, it has been announced that disciplinary action will be taken against Blazevic, who had worked as Sanader's bodyguard for years.

The Interior Minister said in a statement that photos published in the press today showed that Blazevic had contacted Sanader, who is accused of several serious crimes and has been released on bail, thus damaging the reputation and interests of the police service.

Sanader's defence team said in a statement that Ostojic's decision indicated that the only reason for the suspension was the fact that Blazevic was bringing packages to Sanader's lawyer Goran Suic.

Without raising the question of who the packages were for, the minister's decision suggests that nobody, especially members of the Interior Ministry, is allowed to contact not only Sanader but his attorneys as well, the defence team said, adding that under the constitution and the law, Sanader did not commit any crime and there were no regulations that would restrict him or other Croatian citizens from freely communicating.

Sanader's lawyers - Suic, Cedo Prodanovic and Jadranka Slokovic - said the Interior Ministry statement indicated the contrary, for which there was no footing in the police act the minister was citing.

The defence team said they saw the suspension as a "threatening message" not only to them, but also to other Croatian citizens, with serious consequences on human rights and fundamental freedoms.