Following their arrests by the Specialist Prosecutor on 4 and 5 November, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi were transferred to the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague on 4 and 5 November.
A Pre-Trial Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has confirmed the indictment against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi on 26 October 2020. Pursuant to Rule 88(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers the indictment, as confirmed, was not made public at that time.
The confirmed indictment has now been made public with redactions and can be accessed here.
The public redacted arrest warrants and transfer orders for all of the Accused can also be accessed here.
The indictment, as confirmed, states that the war crimes of illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture, and murder, and the crimes against humanity of imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, murder, enforced disappearance of persons, and persecution were committed from at least March 1998 through September 1999. The crimes charged took place in several locations across Kosovo as well as in Kukës and Cahan, in Northern Albania, and were committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (“KLA”) against hundreds of civilians and persons not taking part in hostilities. The victims included persons suspected of being opposed to the KLA and later the Provisional Government of Kosovo, namely: (i) the Serbian, Roma and Ashkali populations; (ii) Catholics; (iii) civilians allegedly collaborating with Serb authorities or allegedly interacting with Serbs; (iv) Albanians affiliated to or supporting the Democratic League of Kosovo or other parties perceived as anti-KLA; (v) Albanians who did not join or support the KLA; and (vi) individuals with current or former employment perceived as anti-KLA.
The indictment, as confirmed, alleges that Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are individually criminally responsible, under various forms of responsibility, for the crimes charged, which were committed in the context of a non-international armed conflict in Kosovo and were part of a widespread and systematic attack against persons suspected of being opposed to the KLA.
Information about the date and time of the initial appearances of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi before the Pre-Trial Judge will be announced in due course.
Initial appearances are public hearings and can be followed by video streaming via the website of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
