Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who is in custody in Salzburg, Austria, has told Saturday's edition of Salzburger Nachrichten daily that he feels persecuted and that his rights have been restricted.
"A media witch hunt and campaign are being carried out against me and my family aimed at destroying my reputation," Sanader says in an interview, part of which was published on the daily's website on Friday.
"My defence rights are very restricted as the media and politicians have already convicted me," he says, but adds that this will make him and his family "stronger than ever."
Sanader refutes claims that he was arrested for abuse of office and creating a criminal organisation in Croatia.
"In the arrest warrant I am charged with creating an organisation for the purpose of commission of criminal acts. This is a much milder act. But this accusation is as unfounded as the other ones against me."
Sanader talks about witness tempering and pressure that they testify against him.
"The Zagreb County Prosecutor's Office has never prosecuted or shed light on that tampering. Aside from that, some suspects in criminal proceedings are being promised milder sentences if they accuse me. This strategy has lasted for months and is targeted at marking me as a culprit," Sanader is quoted as saying.
According to Austrian news agency APA, which carried parts of the interview not published on the Salzburger Nachrichten website, Sanader has accused his successor Jadranka Kosor of standing behind the campaign against him for fear that he could return to politics.
"In any case, she wants to prevent that from happening. Deputy Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks and State Prosecutor (Mladen) Bajic are helping her in that."
Sanader believes that Kosor launched his prosecution because Croatia is under pressure from the European Union.
"This is election year in Croatia and in prison I can't be dangerous. She thinks that this will win her votes, but it won't, and the party will be destroyed in the process. In the meantime, the country's real problems will remain unsolved."
Sanader also believes that the Austrian investigation into him for money laundering will prove to be unfounded.
He told Austrian journalists that he feels fine in prison, "in keeping with the circumstances."
