BELGRAD, November 22 (RAPSI) - Serbian politician Vojislav Šešelj, who has been on trial by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague for ten years, is suing for 12 million euros in damages, according to the Serbian Radical Party.

Šešelj has endured a longer ICTY trial without a verdict than any other defendant. A verdict was expected this October, however, last August Šešelj filed a motion to remove one of the three judges from the trial on the grounds of suspected bias.

In his most recent address to the tribunal several days ago, the defendant reported breaches in probation protocol and requested release.

Also, according to the Serbian Radical Party, Šešelj suffered non-pecuniary damages that cannot be compensated by simply acknowledging the violation of his rights. Šešelj is suing the ICTY for 12 million euros.

In 2012, the politician filed for compensation from the tribunal for depriving him of communicating with his family, friends and doctors, as well as for violating his right to pay for his defense, and for delaying the trial. The tribunal dismissed the suit and claimed that the defendant’s testimony was not based on the facts. In 2011, Šešelj filed a motion for his release and sued for 10 million euros in damages for the eight years he had spent in prison.

Šešelj voluntarily gave himself up to the ICTY in February 2003. His trial began in November 2007. ICTY charges against Seselj include persecuting civilians in the early 1990s for political, racial and religious reasons. He is suspected of illegal deportation, inhumane actions, murder, torture, violence, destroying private property without just cause and looting in Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

Prosecutors are demanding a 28-year sentence for Šešelj who pleaded not guilty.