Kosovo's former president denies new charges in war crime trial

By Dzihat Aliju and​​​​​​​ Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci, who is facing war crime charges at a special court in The Hague, denied new charges Tuesday.

In 2020, Kosovo police launched a search operation at Thaci's residence in the capital Pristina a day after he announced his resignation to face charges brought against him.

Thaci, 52, is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war with Serbia.

In a lawsuit filed in the special court in The Hague known as the Kosovo Special Prosecutor's Office and Chambers for war crimes allegedly committed during the war in Kosovo, in addition to Thaci, former Speaker of the Assembly Kadri Veseli, former spokesman of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, a former commander of the UCK, were given the right to speak at separate sessions.

Asked by Judge Nicolas Guillou whether he accepted the indictment containing the new and confirmed charges, which was approved on April 29, Thaci said yes, but he said he did not understand them "because they were too redacted.”

Thaci's lawyer, Gregory Kehoe, also said that his client and the other defendants may not fully understand what the Special Prosecutor is presenting as the accusations are so redacted.

Thaci said he did not want to add anything else and argued that he was innocent.

Veseli also argued that he is innocent.

"I want the trial to start as soon as possible and I want the right to express my position and innocence before the citizens of Kosovo, the fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army, and this respectable court,'' he said.

Selimi and Krasniqi also denied the newly redacted accusations against them in separate sessions held Tuesday and argued that they were innocent.

- New charges

The indictment of the lawsuit filed against Thaci and the three other defendants containing new charges was approved on April 29 and published on the court's website.

Prosecutor Jack Smith included in the new indictment many crimes allegedly committed by former political and military leaders of the UCK in the cities of Suhareka and Gilan.

Thaci and the three other defendants are charged with murder, torture, inhuman treatment and illegal arrests.

According to the indictment, members of the UCK committed the crimes by depriving at least 12 people of their liberty in Budakova and Semetishte without any legal process between July 4, 1998 and April 29, 1999.

The first indictment against Thaci and the other three defendants was approved on Oct. 26, 2020.

The defendants have been detained in The Hague since 2020.