Kosovo Liberation Army Witness Testifies About Kidnapping and Killing at Hashim Thaçi's War Crimes Trial

THE HAGUE - A witness for the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVK) took the stand at the war crimes trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi in The Hague, testifying about the OVK's alleged kidnapping and killing of the witness's close relative. The witness, identified only as W02951, gave testimony in a closed session at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Thaçi and three other former OVK leaders are being held in The Hague pending trial on charges relating to the alleged kidnapping and disappearance of at least 100 civilians, mostly Serbs and Roma, along with ethnic Albanian political opponents during the 1998-99 war for Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Thaçi resigned as president of Kosovo in November 2020 after learning that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers had confirmed an indictment against him. "The momentous victories would have been impossible without the courage, struggle and selflessness of the best boys and girls of the Kosovo Liberation Army," protesters said at a rally in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, that drew thousands of Thaçi's supporters.

Why this matters: The war crimes trial of Hashim Thaçi, a central figure in Kosovo's fight for independence, has significant implications for transitional justice and reconciliation in the Balkans. The testimony of witnesses like W02951 could shed light on alleged atrocities committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army during the conflict, potentially reshaping narratives about the war.

In related developments, the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court (SCCC) declared a referral regarding the constitutional validity of the Legal Aid Regulations of the Specialist Chambers as inadmissible. The Bahtijari Defence was granted a second extension to finalize and submit the required documents for the KSC legal aid request. The Prosecution also called its 56th witness, W04850, who is expected to testify about an individual arrested by the KLA in 1999 who has been missing since then. Meanwhile, the testimony of Ramiz Qeriqi, the Prosecution's 55th witness and a former battalion Commander in the KLA's 121st Brigade, continued in the proceedings.

As the trial of Hashim Thaçi and his co-defendants unfolds, the testimony of witnesses like W02951 about alleged kidnappings and killings by the Kosovo Liberation Army will be closely scrutinized. The proceedings at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers aim to establish accountability for crimes committed during the Kosovo War, with the goal of delivering justice for victims and their families. The outcome of this landmark trial could have far-reaching consequences for Kosovo's political landscape and its relationship with Serbia.

Key Takeaways

• Witness testifies about KLA's alleged kidnapping and killing of relative.
• Thaçi and 3 others on trial for kidnapping, disappearance of 100+ civilians.
• Thaçi resigned as Kosovo president after indictment confirmation.
• Testimony could reshape narratives about Kosovo War atrocities.
• Trial aims to establish accountability for Kosovo War crimes.