Kosovo’s ex-KLA leader Kadri Veseli pleads not guilty at Hague war crimes trial

Gazeta Express

10/11/2020 15:50

Former senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Kadri Veseli, pleaded not guilty to war crimes charges in the war against Serbia after appearing for the first time at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on Tuesday.

“I have read all counts of the indictment and allow me to say with full confidence that I plead not guilty,” Veseli said. The indictment against former leader of the Democratic party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, was confirmed on 26 October 2020. He was arrested by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office on 5 November 2020 and transferred to the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on the same day. The indictment charges Kadri Veseli, under various forms of criminal responsibility, with war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. The public redacted indictment can be read here.

Veseli’s lawyer, Ben Emmerson who appeared through video-link in the first public hearing said that he will ask his client to be released from detention pending trial. He also said that his client was not arrested as claimed by the pre-trial judge, but has voluntarily surrendered after an agreement with the SPO. /GazetaExpress/