Former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders have pleaded not guilty to new charges brought by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague.
In separate sessions before the Specialized Chambers, the former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, the former Speakers of the Assembly, Kadri Veseli, and Jakup Krasniqi, but also the former MP, Rexhep Selimi, pleaded not guilty to the new charges, which were added on 29 April to the initial indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
During the hearing for further appearances on May 10, Thaçi said that he did not understand the accusations because they were very edited, but said that he pleaded not guilty.
“I plead not guilty, although I have not read or understood the case, but I plead not guilty,” he said, as he attended the hearing via video link from the Hague Detention Center.
Pre-trial judge Nicolas Guillou said the Specialized Prosecution has filed three categories of changes in the indictment against Thaci and other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. But only the first two categories contain new charges.
The new charges relate to alleged crimes in two detention centers in Suhareka and a detention center in Gjilan.
“The first category consisted of two detention centers in the Municipality of Suhareka, where KLA members committed crimes of persecution, imprisonment or arbitrary detention, other inhumane acts, inhuman treatment, torture, illegal murder and enforced disappearance. “, He said.
“The second category had to do with two incidents of persecution and illegal murder committed in a detention center in the Municipality of Gjilan and the modification of the time when this happened.”
Also, the Specialized Prosecution has included in the new indictment, the suspicion of direct involvement in Thaçi’s crimes.
“And the third category consisted of two incidents of personal involvement of the accused in the crimes committed,” Guillou said.
Meanwhile, in a separate hearing, Veseli also pleaded not guilty, demanding that the trial begin as soon as possible.
“I have read [the new charges], I just want the trial to start as soon as possible and to have my right to express my innocence” before the citizens and the court, said Veseli.
Also, Jakup Krasniqi, who was physically present in the courtroom, said that he pleaded not guilty and said that he has no responsibility for the charges against him.
“Mr. Judge, I have read the indictment and the last appendix and I can say with full conviction that I find it difficult to understand both the first charge and the continuation, as I am convinced that I have never committed such acts in my life. Therefore “I plead not guilty and we demand that the trial be expedited and that you not keep us in detention in The Hague for so long,” Krasniqi said.
He also said that he would not have believed it, if it were not for this case in court, that judges, as he said, educated in liberal states and with a tradition in justice, “dare to make an accusation that relies solely on the basis of Serbia’s lies “.
On May 10, in front of the Specialized Chambers, the former member of the Assembly of Kosovo, Rexhep Selimi, when asked about the accusations raised, said: “I am convinced that I have no responsibility for what we heard.”
Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli and Selimi have a joint indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The trial against them has not yet begun.
The indictment against Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi was filed on October 26, 2020 and made public on November 5, 2020.
