The pre-trial judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Nicolas Guillou, decided on Thursday that Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veseli should remain in detention ahead of their trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo. Judge Guillou turned down a defense request for the release of Thaci and Veseli, who were two of the wartime leaders of the guerrilla Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. The two men have been in detention for around a year and a half, since November 2020.
Judge Guillou concluded that “the risks that Mr. Thaci (and Mr. Veseli) will abscond, obstruct the progress of SC [Specialist Chambers] proceedings, or commit further crimes against those perceived as being opposed to the KLA, including witnesses who have provided or could provide evidence in the case and/or are due to appear before the SC, continue to exist.” The Special Court ruled that house arrest is also out of the question because Thaci and Veseli wield significant authority in Kosovo and because their defense teams have not introduced new arguments in their latest requests for their release.
Read more here.
