Gucati's Defense from Charges of Intimidation of Witnesses Against KLA Starting on Dec. 3

Court for KLA crimes in The Hague (YouTube screenshot)

The defense of the leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army war veterans, Hysni Gucati, charged with obstructing court proceedings and intimidating witnesses, will start presenting evidence to the court for KLA crimes in The Hague on Dec. 3.

According to a decision of the trial chamber, Gucati's attorney Jonathan Rees will make his opening statement and will bring the first witness of the defense before the judges on Dec. 6.

Second defendant Nasim Haradinaj will present his defense after Gucati. The presentation of evidence of both defenses is to wrap up, according to the judges' decision, by Jan. 17, while the entire proceeding is to end by March 1. Gucati, 54, president of the KLA War Veterans Association, and Haradinaj, 58, the association's vice president, are charged on six counts with criminal offenses against the judiciary - obstructing officials in performing official duties (two counts), witness intimidation, retaliation and the violation of secrecy of the proceeding (two counts).

According to the indictment, Haradinaj and Gucati committed said criminal offenses by publicizing confidential documents of the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office, including the identity of potential witnesses, at press conferences of the KLA War Veterans Association in Pristina, between Sept. 7 and 25, 2020.

The prosecutors recently completed their presentation of evidence against the defendants, and the judges then rejected the defense attorneys' request for the dismissal of the indictment based on a claim that the charges had not been proved. Gucati's attorney Rees and Haradinaj's attorney Toby Cadman announced earlier that both defendants would testify in their own defense.

Gucati and Haradinaj have been in court custody since September 2020, when EULEX forces arrested them in Pristina and transferred them to The Hague. In their first appearance before the court, they pleaded not guilty.