Former President Hashim Thaçi does not plead guilty to the charges of obstruction of justice

2024-12-08 13:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Former President Hashim Thaçi does not plead guilty to the charges of

The former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, did not declare himself on Sunday regarding the accusations of obstruction of justice, while he called for respect for the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo in the processes that are taking place in the Special Court for war crimes based in The Hague.

On Friday, the Specialized Prosecutor's office announced that it has filed an indictment against Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazli, for attempting to obstruct officials in the performance of their official duties and disobedience to the court, as well as for the former Minister of Justice. Hajredin Kuçi for disobeying the court.

Former president Hashim Thaçi did not declare himself to the charges brought against him.

"I have not had the opportunity due to other commitments to essentially discuss the document confirmed by you. Therefore, I will declare in time within the regular Constitutional and legal deadline," said Mr. Thaçi, who is facing three charges of obstructing official persons in the performance of official duties, three charges of violating the secrecy of the procedure and four charges of disobedience to the court.

Mr. Thaçi said in his speech that he has not yet read the indictments against him in full, while he is involved in another judicial process.

"And we have heard misinterpretations of political and national history about the freedom of the state and the independence of Kosovo at least from the 1980s until today. So it is a voluminous process. I know that the Kosovar society, my family and I are looking forward to the end of this process, we are waiting for justice for what we believe in justice. "All of a sudden, two or three days ago, I was notified of the new charge by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office," said Mr. Thaçi.

According to the indictment, between at least April 12, 2023 and November 2, 2023, during separate visits, Mr. Thaçi provided Mr. Smakaj, Mr. Kilaj, Mr. Fazliu and Mr. Kuçi with reliable information about the prosecutor's office, witnesses, instructed them to influence in witness statements and provided details on how to do so.

The indictment claims that Mr. Thaçi coordinated three separate groups, formed with the other three accused as well as with Mr. Kuçi, with the aim of influencing the testimonies of the witnesses.

Mr. Thaçi requested in his speech today that the Constitution and laws of Kosovo be respected in the processes taking place in The Hague.

"I know that Kosovo is on the verge of general electoral elections, but I am not part of the electoral race. I do not pose a political risk to anyone. Therefore, even today I believe and respect the Constitution and Laws of Kosovo. Even today, I ask from all who are sitting on which side or in which uniform that we are in this hall to respect the Constitution and Laws of Kosovo because the Specialized Chambers are a product of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo", he said.

Even the former head of the Detection Agency Bashkim Smakaj, chose not to declare about the accusations against him.

"We have reviewed the materials that I have received but, after the consultation that I had now, I decided to use the 30-day time period to receive additional materials and see that I do not have all the necessary materials to give the statement today" , he said.

The hearing for the former mayor of the municipality of Malisheva, Isni Kilaj, has been postponed to Monday, when it is expected that the former minister of justice, Hajredin Kuçi, will also appear before the court.

On April 3, 2023, in the Special Court of Kosovo based in The Hague, the trial began against the former president of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi and three other former officials of Kosovo, under charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Mr. Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi, senior leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, who were arrested in the fall of 2020, are accused of persecution, imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, murder and forced disappearance of persons.

All the accused deny the allegations of the prosecution.

So far, the Special Court has convicted two former leaders of the KLA War Veterans Organization, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, for obstructing justice.

Meanwhile, the court has pronounced two verdicts for war crimes.

Former KLA commander Salih Mustafa was sentenced to 26 years in prison in December 2022, on charges of unlawful killing, arbitrary detention and torture. In December 2023, the Appeals Chamber of this court reduced his sentence to 22 years, while in September of that year, his sentence was reduced to 15 years of imprisonment.

In July of this year, the Court sentenced former member of the KLA, Pjetër Shala, to 18 years of imprisonment for the crimes of arbitrary detention, torture and murder./ Voa