Kosovo Veterans’ Deputy Leader Blames Hague Court for File Leak

The deputy leader of Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans' Organisation, Nasim Haradinaj, who is accused of obstructing justice and intimidating witnesses, declined to enter a plea at his initial appearance at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague in Friday.

"In regards to my plea, my lawyer will speak on my behalf," Nasim Haradinaj told the pre-trial judge, Nicolas Guillou.

Haradinaj and the KLA Army War Veterans' Organisation's leader, Hysni Gucati, were charged after batches of confidential case files from the Specialist Chambers were leaked to them and both men urged media to publish the material.

Addressing the court, Haradinaj claimed that the prosecution was "trying to divert the attention from the people who leaked the documents and brought them to us".

He also alleged that "they [the prosecutors] are blaming us for the mistakes and errors made by this prosecution".

"This prosecution is selective and biased and I am convinced that they are corrupt because how did the materials come out of their office?" he added.

Haradinaj and Gucati were arrested in September after a raid on the KLA War Veterans' Organisation's offices.

The indictment alleges that between September 7 and 25, 2020, "on the occasion of three press conferences and other broadcasted events, as well as through… social media statements, Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj revealed, without authorisation" lawfully protected information.

It also claims that they identified "details of certain (potential) witnesses".

"Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj also made disparaging accusations and remarks against (potential) witnesses and repeatedly expressed their intention to undermine the Specialist Chambers," the Specialist Chambers added in a...

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