[JURIST] Russia is considering a request by former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] that he travel to that country for medical treatment, the Russian foreign ministry announced Wednesday. In December, Milosevic asked [JURIST report] the judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] to allow him to visit Russia for a checkup and medical treatment. The prosecution in Milosevic's trial has voiced its opposition to Milosevic's leaving the Netherlands, arguing that he may not return to The Hague to finish out his trial, and has said that it will not support transfer to Russia even if Russian authorities guarantee Milosevic's return to the ICTY. Milosevic suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure, which caused another delay in his trial in November [JURIST report]. Proceedings are scheduled to resume January 23. Reuters has more. From Russia, Interfax has local coverage.

4:19 PM ET – Russia's Foreign Ministry has now said that it has accepted Milosevic's request to travel to Moscow for medical treatment and that it will guarantee Milsoevic's return to the ICTY. Aljazeera has more.