Prosecutor V. Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović Appeal Judgement – Accreditation and Practical Information

ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE NOW CLOSED

The pronouncement of the Appeal Judgement in the case of Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović before the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”) is scheduled for Wednesday, 31 May 2023 at 11:30 a.m. CEST in the Courtroom of the Mechanism’s Hague branch.

The hearing will be publicly broadcast on the Mechanism’s website with a 30-minute delay and will be available at the following link: https://www.irmct.org/en/cases/mict-courtroom-broadcast. The hearing can be followed in English, French, and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.

Media Accreditation

The accreditation procedure for media representatives wishing to attend the pronouncement of the Appeal Judgement is now open.

Media representatives wishing to enter the Mechanism’s premises in The Hague on 31 May 2023 must submit an accreditation request to mict-press@un.org, by Thursday, 25 May 2023, at 15:00 CEST. Accreditation requests should include:

  • full names, functions, passport numbers, and contact details of all members (reporter, photographer, cameraman, etc.) who would like to attend; and
  • name and type of media outlet (television, radio, newspaper, magazine, etc.).

Only accredited media representatives will be granted access to the building.

The lobby will be equipped with work spaces, power outlets, and Wi-Fi connection. Journalists wishing to connect to the lobby’s feeds should bring compatible equipment and a BNC cable. The pronouncement of the Appeal Judgement will be broadcast in English, but the audio feed will be available in English, French, and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.

Members of the diplomatic corps and other members of the public wishing to attend the pronouncement of the Appeal Judgement must request accreditation by sending an email to mict-external-relations@un.org by Thursday, 25 May 2023 at 15:00 CEST.

Accredited media representatives, non-media representatives, and members of the public will be notified by email of the status of their accreditation and collection details by COB on Friday, 26 May 2023.

Filming Inside the Mechanism Building

No filming is allowed inside the Mechanism building. Filming of the court proceedings will be carried out by authorised Mechanism staff, and an audio-visual feed will be distributed. Media wishing to obtain footage of the hearing should send a request to mict-press@un.org, Please note that footage can be provided in the MP4 format and it will include the option of English, French, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, or floor channel

SNG Vehicles

Limited space is available in the vicinity of the Mechanism building for SNG trucks. The Mechanism does not issue accreditations for SNG trucks and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Trucks parked in non-designated areas will be asked to move by the local authorities.

Limited break-out boxes for the audio and video feeds are available. However, media organisations must ensure that they have an adequate supply of cabling and power.

Security Procedures

Main Entrance

 All persons entering the Mechanism building are subject to security checks of their person and belongings. No one is permitted access to the building without complying fully with the requirements of the Mechanism’s Security Officers.

All members of the press must present their accreditation ticket, a valid press card, and a valid passport/ID with a photo at the Main Entrance.

Access to the Lobby

Persons with accreditation to access the lobby must remain within that area of the building and will not be allowed into the public gallery of the Courtroom.

Access to Public Gallery

Once in the building, persons who have been granted accreditation to access the public gallery of the courtroom are required to pass through an additional security check. Persons will be required to show both the building and public gallery accreditations. No food, beverages, electronic equipment or large bags whatsoever will be allowed into the courtroom’s public gallery.

It is possible to leave these items with the Mechanism’s Security in the deposit boxes at the main entrance. If you use the Mechanism’s storage facilities, please plan for extra time to store your items and be reminded that the Mechanism shall not be liable for any loss or damage to any items or equipment.

Court Formalities

The Presiding Judge is responsible for the dignity and decorum of the courtroom proceedings and may order that any person be removed from the public gallery at any time. The formal entry of the Judges will be announced by an usher who will ask all present to rise. All present, in the courtroom and in the public gallery, will stand and remain standing until after the Judges have taken their seats. A similar procedure will be followed at the close or any adjournment of the proceedings. All present will be asked to remain standing until all Judges have left the courtroom. For more information please refer to the Mechanism’s Rules of Decorum.

Electronic Equipment

With the exception of accredited media in the lobby, no electronic equipment whatsoever will be allowed to the public gallery or in the designated areas for accredited non-media representatives. It is possible to leave these items with the Mechanism’s Security in the deposit boxes at the Main Entrance. If you use the Mechanism’s storage facilities, please plan for extra time to store your items and be reminded that the Mechanism shall not be liable for any loss or damage to any items or equipment.

For further information please contact:

External Relations Office             
Tel: +31 70 512 5691; +31 70 512 5231;                
or email mict-press@un.org             

About the Stanišić and Simatović Case

 Biographies of Mechanism Judges Assigned to the Case

About the Mechanism