Kosovo veteran calls prosecution 'biased' at special court
The deputy head of an association of Kosovo war veterans has called prosecutors who charged him with offenses including intimidating potential witnesses “selective, political and biased,” during a hearing at a war crimes court
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The deputy head of an association of Kosovo war veterans called prosecutors who have charged him with offenses including intimidating potential witnesses “selective, political and biased,” at a hearing Friday at a war crimes court
Nasim Haradinaj declined to enter a plea to the charges during his appearance at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The leader of the association, Hysni Gucati, is scheduled to appear before a pre-trial judge later Friday.
They both have been indicted on allegations of endangering potential witnesses in war crimes cases by releasing their names publicly.
“This prosecution is selective, political and biased,” Haradinaj said at his first court appearance since being indicted. His lawyer, Toby Cadman, said Haradinaj would enter a plea to the charges at his next appearance, early next year.
The veterans association represents former ethnic Albanian separatists who fought Serbian troops in Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war for independence. The Hague-based special court is investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the conflict.
It has indicted suspects including former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci on charges of murder, torture and persecution linked to the conflict. Thaci denies the charges.
The court and a linked prosecutor's office was established following a 2011 report by the Council of Europe, a human rights body, that included allegations that Kosovo Liberation Army fighters trafficked human organs taken from prisoners and killed Serbs and fellow ethnic Albanians. The organ harvesting allegations weren’t included in the indictment against Thaci.
In 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, a move that Belgrade refuses to recognize.