On 8 December 2006, Vojislav Šešelj informed the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) that he will resume taking foodstuffs and receive medical attention, after refusing to do so since 11 November 2006. The announcement was made following the Appeals Chamber’s decision earlier that day and commitments from the Registry to facilitate many of his requests concerning arrangements for his defence. The Appeals Chamber's decision granted Šešelj's appeal against the Trial Chamber's decision to impose stand by counsel.

On 30 November, the ICTY moved Vojislav Šešelj to the prison hospital next to the United Nations (UN) Detention Unit of the prison of Scheveningen following a serious deterioration in his health as a result of his hunger strike. 

In addressing Šešelj's appeal, the Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber abused its discretion by immediately ordering the imposition of standby counsel, without first establishing additional obstructionist behaviour on the part of Šešelj warranting that imposition. By so doing, the Trial Chamber failed to give Šešelj a real opportunity to demonstrate that despite his conduct in pre-trial, and the conduct leading up to the imposition of assigned counsel, he now understood that in order to be permitted to conduct his defence, he would have to comply with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the Tribunal and that he was willing to do so. It was this opportunity that the Appeals Chamber Decision intended to accord to Šešelj.

Due to the current health condition of Šešelj, the Appeals Chamber ordered that his trial should not open until such time as he is fully able to participate in the proceeding as a self-represented accused.

Press release