A European Union-backed war crimes court sentenced two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association to 4 1/2 years in prison Wednesday for witness intimidation and obstructing justice, reported AP.
The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers said Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj prevented prosecutors “from effective investigations and prosecutions” of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
The court found the two men guilty of intimidating witnesses by publicizing leaked confidential documents “pertaining to the investigations and internal work” of the prosecutors.
Gucati and Haradinaj publicly called witnesses “traitors,” “spies,” “collaborators” and “Albanian speakers” with the intention “to make witnesses and potential witnesses fearful and therefore hesitant to provide information,” the tribunal said.
The special court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the actions of the KLA during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo.
Prosecutors have indicted several people, including former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, on charges of murder, torture and persecution. All have denied the charges.
‘My comrade-in-arms Hysni and Nasim, stay strong! The war for freedom and sovereignty continues!”
This was the first reaction posted on social media by the head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, after The Special Tribunal’s verdict.
Haradinaj also stated that the elders of Hysni Gucati used to be patriots and freedom fighters.
“I will say a few words on Nasim. His great grandfather, Xhemajli, a participant in the majority of wars against our oppressors, was killed in Gjakova, at the tower of Abdullah Pashe Dreni, while fighting to defend the Alliance of Prizren.
His grandfather, was also a participant in all the wars for freedom. His wife, Nasim’s grandmother, was the daughter of the Tishukes, a renowned patriotic family in Dukagjin, Kosovo,” wrote Haradinaj.
In addition, Haradinaj underlined that Nasim Haradinaj’s family and relatives participated in the anti-Yugoslav movements.
/Argumentum.al
