Miljkovic: Kostic in extremely poor health condition, we fear the worst

Lawyer Predrag Miljkovic, the defense attorney for Zoran Kostic, who is charged with alleged war crimes in Kosovo, stated to Kosovo Online that his client was in an extremely poor health condition and that if Kostic was not allowed hospital treatment, he feared the worst consequences.

Miljkovic recalled that Kostic had been in detention since September 20, 2023, and his health condition was a significant concern.

"I presented complete medical documentation during the detention hearing to the judge, indicating that Zoran Kostic has been a cardiology patient for 30 years, suffering from hypertension, and has a stent implanted. He is in very poor health. His heart is functioning at only 30 percent. This has proven accurate on two occasions so far. However, as I see it, we still haven't found understanding from the institutions. On the night between November 2nd and 3rd, he experienced some form of anxiety attack or heart attack in prison. I'm not an expert to assess it. After that, an EKG was performed in prison, but the problem is that he was never informed of the results, and no one guided him to further extensive tests or medical treatment", Miljkovic said.

The lawyer noted that this had not been the only situation in which Kostic's health had been poor.

"Another situation occurred on December 5th when we had a hearing at the prosecutor's office. Before the hearing, he also experienced something that we can call a heart attack. I saw it with my own eyes. Suddenly, he started feeling choked, tightness, and burning in the chest. The emergency medical service arrived, and they took him to the clinical center. After a few hours at the clinical center, as he says, they ordered him to undergo a coronary angiography test. However, as far as I know, he was returned to the detention center in Podujevo", he emphasized.

Miljkovic emphasizes that his client is now in an extremely poor health condition and called his son this morning, telling him that he feels the same as when he had a heart attack.

"He himself feels this pre-infarction state. He is in very bad shape, breathing heavily, lacking oxygen, unable to walk, and experiencing chest pain. We have written about this on several occasions to almost everyone. We informed the judge, the prosecutor, the Ministry of Health, the department responsible for correctional facilities, the Ministry of Justice, the Correctional Service, the Red Cross, and so far, there has been no progress. I think, to some extent, as I understand it, no one believed until the moment when he had a heart attack in the Special Prosecutor's Office. This morning when he called, it sounded quite serious to me, and I am afraid that if he is not allowed treatment in the hospital and some examination, expanded examination, or medical treatment, we will face the worst consequence", he warns.

Miljkovic says they have requested the judge to send Kostic to a private hospital because they performed irrelevant examinations and discriminated against him at the Clinical Center in Pristina.

"He says he sat with his hands tied for five hours and faced a kind of discrimination. The medical staff, as laymen, cannot resist the impression when they ask why he is here; the guards say for war crimes, and they turn their heads. He sat for five hours with handcuffs on, and again, no one told him the results. I am now appealing and urging all relevant authorities through this channel to send Zoran to one of the private hospitals, the costs of which will be borne by the family to avoid any severe consequences or the worst possible scenario", Miljkovic stated.