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

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

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.

Thaci said he is innocent. Veseli also argued that he is innocent.

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.