Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is due to appear at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague to respond to charges of war crimes.
He will be asked to enter pleas to 11 counts, including genocide, allegedly committed during the 1990s Bosnian war.
If he refuses to enter any pleas, a not-guilty plea will be entered on his behalf, according to court rules.
Mr Karadzic, 63, was arrested in Serbia's capital in July after 13 years on the run where he lived in disguise.
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The indictment, which is being amended, includes genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The alleged crimes include Mr Karadzic's involvement in an attempt to destroy in whole or in part the Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak) and Bosnian Croat ethnic groups.
That included the killing of thousands of civilians in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces, and the shelling of Sarajevo, killing and terrorising the city's civilians.
The indictment says Mr Karadzic knew about the crimes that were being committed by Bosnian Serb forces, but failed to take action to prevent them.
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, at The Hague, says it is almost unthinkable that Mr Karadzic would plead guilty to the charges laid against him.
Our correspondent adds that there may well be procedural delays to the beginning of the trial as the prosecution have indicated they may prepare a new charge sheet.
Mr Karadzic has said he will need time to examine any changes.
Mr Karadzic has already made it clear that he intends to represent himself during any trial.
Since his first appearance before the court 30 days ago, he has filed several motions including one contesting the appointment of presiding Dutch judge Alphons Orie, who he claims is biased against him.
The judge has now been replaced.
He argues that the trial against him is illegal because under the terms of a deal made with former US peace envoy Richard Holbrooke, he was offered immunity from prosecution. The claims have been ridiculed by Mr Holbrooke.
(BBC)
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