KLA Leader: Documents on Cooperation Between Hague Prosecution and Serbia Revealed in the Interest of the Public

Court for KLA crimes in The Hague (YouTube screenshot)

Nasim Haradinaj, a veteran and leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) accused of obstructing justice and witness intimidation, has told the Hague special court for KLA war crimes that his decision to publish confidential court documents in September 2020 was made "in the interest of [Kosovo's] public."

Testifying in his own defense on Jan. 11, Haradinaj stated that it was "in the interest of the public" to learn that the Hague prosecution was collaborating with the Serbian government, which he accused of numerous crimes in Kosovo during the war of 1999. According to him, "the methods of the court's prosecution are reminiscent of those used by the Serbian regime" led by Slobodan Milosevic.

"How can the prosecution employ a known criminal as the coordinator for collaboration [with Serbia]?" Haradinaj asked. Since the judges forbade Haradinaj from mentioning names from the confidential court documents, the accused described this coordinator as an officer of the military security service whom "Milosevic tasked with managing the media."

"He participated in massacres and justified murders in the media, and now appears here as a coordinator. This is the reason for the public of Kosovo to be concerned, and should cause concern for the prosecution as well," Haradinaj said, adding that "Serbia still has the same approach as Milosevic [did]."

The indictment against Haradinaj, who is the vice president of the KLA War Veterans Association, and against first accused Hysni Gucati, who is president of the Association, comprises six charges: two counts of obstructing official persons in performing official duties and four counts of criminal offenses against the administration of justice, namely witness intimidation, retaliation and violating the secrecy of proceedings.