Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Ramush Haradinaj AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu
The Hague

Former Prime Minister of Kosovo acquitted of war crimes

The former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj had been accused of murder and torture during the Kosovo war – but has been found not guilty.

THE UN YUGOSLAV war crimes court has acquitted Kosovo’s ex-prime minister Ramush Haradinaj and two aides in a retrial on charges of murder and torture during the 1990s war of independence from Belgrade.

“The chamber finds you not guilty on all counts in the indictment,” Judge Bakone Justice Moloto told the court in The Hague this morning, ordering the men released.

Judges found that the accused had not taken part in a “joint criminal enterprise” to cleanse the area of ethnic Serbs, and that some witness testimony was unreliable.

Moloto said one witness may not have been in the Jablanica detention camp where alleged abuses took place and “may have told what he heard from others.”

Following one incident of abuse “a KLA soldier apologised for the incident and blamed it on extremist groups within the KLA,” the judge said.

“There is no credible evidence that Haradinaj was even aware of the crimes committed at Jablanica,” Moloto said.

- © AFP, 2012

Read: Former Serbian president shakes hand with Kosovo’s prime minister >

Explainer: Kosovo’s sovereignty… what does it mean? >

Read: Kosovo gains full independence >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
4
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.