The former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Jakup Krasniqi, declared on Tuesday that all charges raised against him were founded on Serbia’s lies.
Krasniqi attended the hearing at the Specialist Chambers in Hague, ahead of the judgement trial.
The former official said it would have never crossed his mind that highly-educated jurists coming from countries with liberal democracies could base their indictment on lies.
He added that the indictment is a strong blow to the people of a country who have only sought their freedom.
“Perhaps I am wrong, but I would have never believed if it weren’t for this, that well-educated jurists coming from countries with liberal democracies, claim to work in a justice system to bring a standard justice, and dare to raise an indictment supported solely on the basis of Serbia’s lies which gravely undermine life, liberty, and individual freedoms”, Krasniqi said.
Earlier in the day, several other ex-KLA commanders appeared in court, including Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veseli.
Both pleaded not guilty to the new charges in the confirmed amended indictment.
The officials were detained in November 2020 and kept at a pre-trial detention prison in Hague. They have since maintained their innocence on all charges.
The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office is accusing them of “deprivation of an individual’s liberty” of at least 12 people, dating back from 4 July 1998 to 29 April 1999.
Meanwhile, the indictment for war crimes extends from March 1998 to September 1999.
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