Thaci to appear before judges in The Hague for the first time on Monday

Photo: Tanjug/Facebook/Hashim Thaçi

Former president of the Provisional Institutions of Pristina, Hashim Thaci, who is, among other things, accused of war crimes, will appear before the court in The Hague for the first time on Monday, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers announced.

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"The first appearance in the court of Hashim Thaci will take place on November 9 at 3 pm in the courtroom of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague," said a statement and specified that this will be the first appearance of the accused in the case specialist prosecutors are conducting against Thaci, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Krasniqi.

The indictment against Thaci was confirmed on October 26, 2020, and after his surrender, Thaci was transferred to The Hague yesterday and placed in the detention facility of the Specialist Chambers in that town.

The indictment charges Hashim Thaci with various types of criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

"The initial appearance of Hashim Thaci will be a public hearing. During an initial appearance the pre-trial judge makes sure that the rights of the accused, including the right to legal representation, are respected, and that the accused understands the charges against him or her," the Specialist Chambers announced.

The indictment filed by the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor's Office based in The Hague, accuses Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi of committing crimes against humanity with the aim of gaining and exercising control over all of Kosovo, by various means.

"All acts listed in this indictment were part of a widespread or systematic attack directed at opponents. The crimes followed a consistent pattern, (targeting) extended families and victims' communities, and were intended to serve as a warning and put pressure on the target population," the 68-page indictment, signed by prosecutor Jack Smith, said.

The indictment also states that the four defendants, as well as other members of this criminal organization, committed these crimes in the period from March 1998 until September 1999 in a manner that included intimidation, harassment, arrest, torture, murder, and kidnappings.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)