Trial of former KLA leaders/Today the testimony of a Briton

2025-09-22 09:19:09, Kosova & Bota CNA

At the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, following the testimonies of former US Assistant Secretary of State, James Rubin, and former legal advisor to the Kosovo delegation during the Rambouillet negotiations, Paul Williams, a third witness will be heard today.

It is about a Briton, called by the defense of former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi, who will give his testimony.

The defense of Thaçi and other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), accused of war crimes, has called a total of 11 witnesses, who will appear in the coming weeks.

Two other witnesses will be presented by Jakup Krasniqi's defense, while the defense of Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selim has not yet called witnesses.

The defense's testimony began last week with Rubin, who over the course of three days spoke mainly about Thaçi's role in the war.

According to him, Thaçi had a primarily political role and had no authority for military decisions within the KLA, but every important military decision had to be approved by the commanders.

He said he had no information linking Thaçi or Krasniqi to the murder allegations.

Williams, during his testimony, also said that Thaçi represented the KLA as a credible negotiator, but did not have full authority over regional commanders.

The trial of four former KLA superiors began in 2023.

Thaçi was the political leader of the KLA before and during the 1998–1999 war, Veseli was the head of the intelligence service, Krasniqi was the spokesman, and Selimi was a member of the general staff.

The indictment against them includes charges of illegal detention, torture, murder, crimes against humanity, enforced disappearance and persecution of hundreds of civilians and persons who did not participate in the fighting.

These crimes allegedly occurred between March 1998 and September 1999 in various locations in Kosovo, but also in northern Albania.

According to the Specialist Chambers, Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi bear personal criminal responsibility for these crimes, but they all deny guilt.

Defense lawyers have stated that the KLA would not have gained the support of the international community if there had been a criminal plan, as prosecutors claim.

According to them, the indictment is based on a selective misinterpretation of events./ REL