He is accused of persecution, murder, torture and enforced disappearances during the period of the uprising (1998-99) that eventually brought independence from Serbia and made him a hero among his countrymen
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci pleaded not guilty today to 10 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the start of his trial before a special court in The Hague.
He is accused of persecution, murder, torture and enforced disappearances during the period of the uprising (1998-99) that eventually brought independence from Serbia and made him a hero among his countrymen.
Thaci and three co-accused, all former close associates in the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and later in politics when peace was restored, all pleaded not guilty shortly after the hearing began.
“I understand the indictment and I am completely innocent,” Thaci told the court.
More than 13,000 people, mostly members of Kosovo’s Albanian majority (90%), are believed to have been killed during the uprising, when Kosovo was still a province of Serbia under then-president Slobodan Milosevic.
The trial, which is being conducted by international judges and prosecutors, began with opening statements by the prosecution and will be followed by defense lawyers and a representative of the Kosovo War Victims Council over the next three days.
Thaci, 54, resigned as president shortly after he was indicted and was detained in The Hague.
Source: Neakriti
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