Kosovo ex-president on trial for war crimes allowed to visit his sick mother
1 year, 6 months ago

Kosovo ex-president on trial for war crimes allowed to visit his sick mother

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, who is on trial in The Hague on 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was in Kosovo on Monday to visit his sick mother, the court said. An email message from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers said that “due to compelling humanitarian grounds, … the Trial Panel has instructed the Registry to manage a custodial visit to Kosovo for Hashim Thaci to meet family." Thaci is on trial alongside three other former senior leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, guerrilla force in Kosovo’s 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia. The trial is being held at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a branch of the Kosovo legal system that was established in The Hague in part due to fears about witness safety and security.

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History of this topic

EU-backed court convicts former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter of murder and abuse during 1999 war
5 months, 1 week ago

EU-backed court convicts former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter of murder and abuse during 1999 war

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Judges at a European Union-backed court convicted a former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter Tuesday with involvement in the murder of one person and the illegal detention and torture of nearly 20 more during his country’s war for independence from Serbia in 1999. Pjetër Shala, also known by the nickname “Wolf,” was found guilty of three war …

Kosovo war crimes tribunal sentences former KLA member to 18 years
5 months, 1 week ago

Kosovo war crimes tribunal sentences former KLA member to 18 years

Al Jazeera  

Judges have ruled that Pjeter Shala committed war crimes during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. Judges at the Kosovo tribunal in The Hague have sentenced former Kosovo Liberation Army member Pjeter Shala to 18 years in prison for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. “Having considered all the evidence, the panel finds you, …

Kosovo makes last-minute push to get its membership in Council of Europe approved in a Friday vote
7 months, 1 week ago

Kosovo makes last-minute push to get its membership in Council of Europe approved in a Friday vote

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The government of Kosovo is making a last-minute effort to convince Western powers to vote on whether to admit the country as a new member in the Council of Europe, the continent’s top human rights body. Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz in a letter Thursday to Theodoros Rousopoulos, the head of the Council of Europe’s Parliament Assembly, said …

Kosovo prime minister deplores new condition ahead of Council of Europe’s membership vote next week
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Kosovo prime minister deplores new condition ahead of Council of Europe’s membership vote next week

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — Kosovo’s prime minister Wednesday deplored the fact that some Western powers reportedly have set another condition ahead of Kosovo’s joining the Council of Europe. Kosovo media reported that France and Germany want Kosovo to take a significant step toward establishing an association of its Serb-majority municipalities in the north to unblock a vote of full membership a …

War crimes court upholds the conviction of a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander
1 year ago

War crimes court upholds the conviction of a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Appeals judges at a special Kosovo court upheld Thursday the convictions of a former commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army for arbitrarily detaining and torturing prisoners and murdering one of them during Kosovo’s war for independence, but reduced his sentence by four years. Presiding Judge Michèle Picard called the ruling — the first appeals judgment in …

Judges reject call for near ban on Hague prison visits for 3 former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters
1 year ago

Judges reject call for near ban on Hague prison visits for 3 former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — International judges on Monday rejected a demand by prosecutors for a nearly complete ban on prison visits for three former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders on trial at The Hague for war crimes. Kosovo ex-President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary Speaker Kadri Veseli and ex-lawmaker Rexhep Selimi face charges including murder, torture and persecution during and after the 1998-1999 …

Prosecutors say Kosovar ex-guerrilla leaders on trial for war crimes tried to influence witnesses
1 year, 1 month ago

Prosecutors say Kosovar ex-guerrilla leaders on trial for war crimes tried to influence witnesses

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Prosecutors are seeking to restrict visits to three former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders who are on trial in The Hague for war crimes because they allegedly tried to manipulate witnesses and leak confidential testimony. Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, Parliament ex-speaker Kadri Veseli and former lawmaker Rexhep Selimi were all top leaders of the KLA which waged …

US lawyer named chief prosecutor at office linked to Kosovo war crimes court
1 year, 6 months ago

US lawyer named chief prosecutor at office linked to Kosovo war crimes court

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — American lawyer Kimberly West has been appointed as the chief prosecutor linked to a European Union-backed court prosecuting war crimes in Kosovo, the prosecutor’s office announced Friday. West replaces Jack Smith, who stood down as head of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in November to become a U.S. Justice Department special counsel overseeing investigations into the retention …

Ex-Kosovo president tells international judges he’s innocent
1 year, 8 months ago

Ex-Kosovo president tells international judges he’s innocent

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci on Tuesday insisted he is an innocent man as he addressed a panel of international judges hearing his trial on 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. At the end of his lawyers’ opening statement to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Thaci stood up, buttoned up his gray pinstripe suit …

‘Nobody is above the law:' Kosovo ex-president’s trial opens
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Nobody is above the law:' Kosovo ex-president’s trial opens

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An international prosecutor declared Monday that “nobody is above the law,” as the trial opened for Kosovo’s former president and three other defendants on charges including murder and torture in a case that their supporters claim is unjustly targeting revered freedom fighters. “I am fully not guilty,” Thaci, who went by the nickname The Snake during …

‘Nobody is above the law’: Kosovo ex-president’s trial opens
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Nobody is above the law’: Kosovo ex-president’s trial opens

LA Times  

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, in headphones, appears before the Kosovo Tribunal in the Hague on Monday. An international prosecutor declared Monday that “nobody is above the law,” as the trial opened for Kosovo’s former president and three other defendants on charges including murder and torture in a case that their supporters claim is unjustly targeting revered freedom fighters. Prosecutor …

Protests held in Kosovo to support ex-war leaders on trial
1 year, 8 months ago

Protests held in Kosovo to support ex-war leaders on trial

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Thousands of people took to the streets in Kosovo on Sunday holding signs and chanting slogans in support of former guerilla leaders on trial for their alleged roles in atrocities during the 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia. Filling the main squares of the capital Pristina, demonstrators held photos of Hashim Thaci, who resigned as Kosovo’s president …

Trial opens for former Kosovo fighter accused of war crimes
1 year, 10 months ago

Trial opens for former Kosovo fighter accused of war crimes

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A former fighter with the Kosovo Liberation Army was responsible for the murder of one person and the illegal detention and torture of nearly 20 more during his country’s war for independence from Serbia, an international prosecutor said Tuesday at the start of a war crimes trial. The defendant, Pjetёr Shala, insists he is innocent and …

‘Partial independence’: Kosovo reflects on secession from Serbia
1 year, 10 months ago

‘Partial independence’: Kosovo reflects on secession from Serbia

Al Jazeera  

Independence 15 years ago was a dream come true, but building a future is taking longer than expected, Albanian Kosovars say. For Teuta Hadri, Kosovo’s declaration of independence on February 17, 2008 was “a century’s long dream”. “There was nothing else – death or freedom, because gave an oath to take the process to the end; nobody among us knew …

Special Kosovo court upholds most convictions of 2 veterans
1 year, 10 months ago

Special Kosovo court upholds most convictions of 2 veterans

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Appeals judges at a European Union-backed court on Thursday upheld most of the convictions of two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association who were found guilty last year of witness intimidation and obstructing justice. In the ruling Thursday, judges said that it is “fundamental to the fulfilment of the Specialist Chambers’ mission that individuals who …

Former Kosovo rebel commander convicted of 1999 murder
2 years ago

Former Kosovo rebel commander convicted of 1999 murder

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A former commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army was found guilty Friday of arbitrarily detaining and torturing prisoners perceived as supporters of Serbia and murdering one of them during a late 1990s war for Kosovo’s independence. Mustafa was arrested in 2020 in Kosovo and sent to the Netherlands to stand trial at the European Union-backed Kosovo …

Kosovo tribunal convicts ex-rebel leader for war crimes
2 years ago

Kosovo tribunal convicts ex-rebel leader for war crimes

Al Jazeera  

A Kosovo court seated in the Netherlands sentences Salih Mustafa to 26 years in prison in its first war crimes verdict. In its first-ever war crimes verdict, the court on Friday sentenced Salih Mustafa to 26 years in prison for war crimes, including murder and torture in a detention centre where prisoners, mostly fellow Kosovo Albanians who were political opponents …

Albanian politicians see jailed Kosovo leaders in The Hague
2 years, 2 months ago

Albanian politicians see jailed Kosovo leaders in The Hague

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — Three former presidents of Albania and one of Kosovo on Wednesday visited ethnic Albanian former commanders in the fight against Serbian rule in Kosovo who are being held in a Netherlands prison pending trial for alleged war crimes. support and solidarity with their last battle in defense of Kosovo’s war for freedom and independence.” An EU-backed war …

Kosovo official says ex-leaders’ trial is taking too long
2 years, 6 months ago

Kosovo official says ex-leaders’ trial is taking too long

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — A senior Kosovo official on Friday criticized the length of the international trial process for detained former independence fighters charged with war crimes during and after the 1998-1999 war in the Balkan country. Kosovo’s parliament speaker Glauk Konjufca left for The Hague, Netherlands, to meet with five ex-leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including Kosovo’s ex-president Hashim …

Albanian PM meets Kosovo ex-leader held on war crime charges
2 years, 7 months ago

Albanian PM meets Kosovo ex-leader held on war crime charges

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s prime minister on Tuesday visited Kosovo’s ex-president Hashim Thaci in a prison in The Netherlands, where he is being held pending trial for alleged war crimes. In 2020 Thaci resigned as Kosovo’s president and was flown to The Hague to face charges including war crimes, murder, torture and persecution — all which he has denied. The …

Kosovo war crimes suspect arrested by authorities in Belgium
3 years, 9 months ago

Kosovo war crimes suspect arrested by authorities in Belgium

Associated Press  

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Belgian authorities have arrested a Kosovo war crimes suspect indicted by prosecutors at a special court in The Hague, the court announced Tuesday. Kosovo Specialist Chambers said that Pjetёr Shala was arrested Tuesday in Belgium “pursuant to an arrest warrant and confirmed indictment related to war crimes” issued by a pre-trial judge. The Hague-based special court …

Ex-Kosovo leader Thaci denies charges at Hague-based court
4 years, 1 month ago

Ex-Kosovo leader Thaci denies charges at Hague-based court

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — Hashim Thaci, who resigned as Kosovo’s president to face war crimes and other charges including murder, torture and persecution, said Monday he denied all of the allegations he faces at a special court in the Netherlands. Thaci, 52, served as a guerrilla leader during Kosovo’s war for independence from Serbia in the late 1990s, before rising to political …

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Pleads Not Guilty to War Crimes Charges
4 years, 1 month ago

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Pleads Not Guilty to War Crimes Charges

News 18  

Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci on Monday pleaded not guilty to all war crimes charges brought against him in his first appearance before a judge after being taken into custody in The Hague. Thaci, who led the guerrilla uprising against Serbian forces in 1998-99 as commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, faces 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against …

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Arrested, Moved to The Hague to Face War Crimes Charges
4 years, 1 month ago

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Arrested, Moved to The Hague to Face War Crimes Charges

News 18  

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, was arrested and transferred to the detention center of the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday to face charges of war crimes. Thaci and three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army are accused of overseeing illegal detention facilities where the movement’s opponents were kept in …

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Resigns to Face War Crimes Charges in The Hague
4 years, 1 month ago

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci Resigns to Face War Crimes Charges in The Hague

News 18  

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, resigned with immediate effect on Thursday after learning that a tribunal in The Hague had confirmed a war crimes indictment against him. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the indictment against Thaci gave hope to thousands of victims of the war “who have waited for more than two decades to find …

Kosovo’s president resigns to face war crimes charges
4 years, 1 month ago

Kosovo’s president resigns to face war crimes charges

LA Times  

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci, a guerrilla leader during Kosovo’s war for independence from Serbia in the late 1990s, resigned on Thursday and will face charges for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity at a special court based in The Hague. Serbia has been the aggressor.” Thaci was indicted in June along with nine other former rebel leaders by a …

1st Kosovar Albanian arrested on war crimes charges
4 years, 3 months ago

1st Kosovar Albanian arrested on war crimes charges

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — A special international court said Thursday that a former commander of the separatist fighters in Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war has been arrested on charges including torture of detainees and the murder of one prisoner held at a compound in Kosovo during the conflict. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, said former Kosovo Liberation Army commander Salih …

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci indicted on war crime charges related to country's war of independence
4 years, 6 months ago

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci indicted on war crime charges related to country's war of independence

ABC  

Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci has been indicted on war crimes charges, including murder, along with nine other former separatist fighters. Key points: The 1998-1999 conflict left more than 10,000 people dead Both President Hashim Thaci and former parliament speaker Kadri Vaseli have been indicted and are former top commanders in the Kosovo Liberation Army War crimes allegations against the KLA …

Kosovo president indicted for war crimes
4 years, 6 months ago

Kosovo president indicted for war crimes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kosovo’s president has been indicted …

A look at Serbia-Kosovo dispute as war crimes charges filed
4 years, 6 months ago

A look at Serbia-Kosovo dispute as war crimes charges filed

LA Times  

Kadri Veseli, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo, speaks during a news conference in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, on June 24, 2020. An international prosecutor has indicted Kosovo’s president and nine other former rebel fighters on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after a 1998-99 armed conflict between the ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbia. After …

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