Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic claims he is the victim of a media witch hunt that will prevent him from getting a fair trial on charges of war crimes during the 1990s Balkan wars.

Karadzic made his first appearance Thursday before the U.N. Yugoslav war crimes tribunal, 13 years after he was indicted for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After his appearance Thursday, he filed claims with the tribunal saying a lynch atmosphere surrounds his trial and it is fomented by the United States. The claims were made public on Friday.

Karadzic has declined to enter a plea to the 11 charges against him.