Post by Fender on Aug 29, 2009 21:00:31 GMT -5
Former Kosovo PM to Go Before Hague Tribunal
Pristina | 28 August 2009 | Petrit Collaku
Ramush HaradinajRamush Haradinaj, the leader of the opposition Alliance of Kosovo’s Future, AAK, is to again appear before the Hague tribunal, with the prosecution urging a partial retrial on war crimes charges.
On October 29, 2009, the prosecution will ask for the partial retrial of Haradinaj and co-defendants Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, says.
The prosecution is asking for the new trial "to hear direct evidence of witnesses regarding the participation [of the three accused] in a joint criminal enterprise and their individual responsibility" in relation to a number of crimes, the ICTY website reports.
The prosecution first asked the Appeal Chamber for a partial retrial of the trio last year, claiming that Haradinaj and Balaj were released because witnesses were “threatened and blackmailed”.
Haradinaj and his co-defendants, who are also former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, were previously indicted on charges relating to the murder, kidnap, torture and rape of Serbs, Roma and Albanians between March and September 1998.
In April 2008, Haradinaj and Balaj were cleared of all charges, following a three-year trial. Brahimaj was sentenced to six years in prison, having been found guilty of cruel treatment and torture.
Brahimaj's defence is seeking an acquittal or a reduced sentence.
Burim Ramadani, the general secretary of the AAK, said that the former prime minister will overcome this hurdle.
“We are convinced that this [...] challenge will end for the good of Kosovo and [that of] former prime minister Haradinaj,” Ramadani was quoted by Pristina daily Express as saying.
He added that this will not affect the AAK local election campaign, which starts on October 15.
“We think that he will be here to lead the political processes in Kosovo, and not just the election campaign. There is no reason to be concerned,” Ramadani said, referring to Haradinaj.
If the prosecution fails to convince the court, then Haradinaj's cases will be closed forever, as will that of Balaj.
Pristina | 28 August 2009 | Petrit Collaku
Ramush HaradinajRamush Haradinaj, the leader of the opposition Alliance of Kosovo’s Future, AAK, is to again appear before the Hague tribunal, with the prosecution urging a partial retrial on war crimes charges.
On October 29, 2009, the prosecution will ask for the partial retrial of Haradinaj and co-defendants Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, says.
The prosecution is asking for the new trial "to hear direct evidence of witnesses regarding the participation [of the three accused] in a joint criminal enterprise and their individual responsibility" in relation to a number of crimes, the ICTY website reports.
The prosecution first asked the Appeal Chamber for a partial retrial of the trio last year, claiming that Haradinaj and Balaj were released because witnesses were “threatened and blackmailed”.
Haradinaj and his co-defendants, who are also former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, were previously indicted on charges relating to the murder, kidnap, torture and rape of Serbs, Roma and Albanians between March and September 1998.
In April 2008, Haradinaj and Balaj were cleared of all charges, following a three-year trial. Brahimaj was sentenced to six years in prison, having been found guilty of cruel treatment and torture.
Brahimaj's defence is seeking an acquittal or a reduced sentence.
Burim Ramadani, the general secretary of the AAK, said that the former prime minister will overcome this hurdle.
“We are convinced that this [...] challenge will end for the good of Kosovo and [that of] former prime minister Haradinaj,” Ramadani was quoted by Pristina daily Express as saying.
He added that this will not affect the AAK local election campaign, which starts on October 15.
“We think that he will be here to lead the political processes in Kosovo, and not just the election campaign. There is no reason to be concerned,” Ramadani said, referring to Haradinaj.
If the prosecution fails to convince the court, then Haradinaj's cases will be closed forever, as will that of Balaj.