Haradinaj also pleaded not guilty at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers tribunal. The veterans’ association wields considerable influence in Kosovo, where many former KLA fighters are now in political positions and KLA veterans are celebrated as national heroes. Witness intimidation has been a problem for local prosecutions of alleged KLA crimes in the past. It is one of the reasons the Kosovo Specialist Chambers is seated in The Hague and has international staff. The trial of the KLA veterans’ leaders is the second trial that has opened before the Kosovo war crimes tribunal so far.

Source: MetroXpress October 07, 2021 10:41 UTC