Kosovo president resigns after war crime indictment is confirmed

Gazeta Express

05/11/2020 11:51

Kosovo’s president Hashim Thaci has offered his resignation Thursday after the Hague-based Specialist Chambers confirmed a war crime indictment against him.

Addressing media in Pristina Thaci confirmed that a pre-trial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in the Hague has confirmed an indictment against him. He said that despite the war crime charges no one can distort the history saying that Serbia was the aggressor and Kosovo was only a victim during 1998-1999 war. He called on citizens to avoid any form of public gathering in his support to avoid any misunderstanding. “This is not farewell, but see you,” Thaci stated.

On 24 June, The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) said it had indicted President Hashim Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli and others for murder, enforced disappearances, persecution, and torture. Earlier on Thursday Veseli has also confirmed that an indictment was filed against him and that he will travel to the Hague today. Thaci and Veseli were among the ex-top commanders in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). In addition to Thaci and Veseli the Specialist Chambers has confirmed the indictments also against ex-KLA spokesperson, Jakup Krasniqi, and ex-KLA commander and current MP Rexhep Selimi. They were all members of the KLA’s General Headquarters.  

Announcing the existence of the indictment in, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office accused Thaci and Veseli of repeatedly trying to “obstruct and undermine” the court. The men “are believed to have carried out a secret campaign to overturn the law creating the Court and otherwise obstruct the work of the Court in an attempt to ensure that they do not face justice,” a prosecution statement said. /GazetaExpress/