Latest news with #EuropeanUnion-backed
San Francisco Chronicle
07-08-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Kosovo veterans rally against an EU-backed court prosecuting their former independence fighters
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo war veterans held a protest Thursday against a European Union-backed court prosecuting their former fighters who waged the 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia, claiming the tribunal is biased and unjust. Thousands gathered in Kosovo's capital of Pristina, at the main Scanderbeg Square, to chant in support of arrested former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA — a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla group that led the pro-independence fight. The protest was organized by the veterans association known as OVL-UCK under the motto: 'Together against injustice. KLA is glory, not indictment. Today KLA, tomorrow our whole history.' No violence was reported. 'They are heroes,' read one poster, with the names of the four KLA leaders facing trial at the EU-backed Kosovo Specialist Chambers court, based in The Hague, Netherlands. 'The special court is deforming our history, it is showing injustice toward those who fought for human freedom and dignity,' said Hysni Gucati, head of the veterans' organization. Since 2020, four top KLA leaders have been in custody by the court — Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci, former Parliament Speakers Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and ex-lawmaker Rexhep Selimi. They face charges that include murder, torture and persecution of civilians during and after the war. The court and an associated prosecutor's office were created after a 2011 report by the Council of Europe, a human rights body, that included allegations that KLA fighters trafficked human organs taken from prisoners and killed Serbs and fellow ethnic Albanians. The organ harvesting allegations haven't been included in indictments issued by the court. Two other former KLA members have already been sentenced by The Hague court, including Pjetër Shala. Also, Gucati, and another official of the organization have been convicted by the court in the Netherlands of witness intimidation and obstructing justice. Some 11,400 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war, before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of Kosovo and to cede control of its former province to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain high.
Toronto Star
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Kosovo veterans rally against an EU-backed court prosecuting their former independence fighters
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo war veterans held a protest Thursday against a European Union-backed court prosecuting their former fighters who waged the 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia, claiming the tribunal is biased and unjust. Thousands gathered in Kosovo's capital of Pristina, at the main Scanderbeg Square, to chant in support of arrested former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA — a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla group that led the pro-independence fight.
Winnipeg Free Press
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kosovo veterans rally against an EU-backed court prosecuting their former independence fighters
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo war veterans held a protest Thursday against a European Union-backed court prosecuting their former fighters who waged the 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia, claiming the tribunal is biased and unjust. Thousands gathered in Kosovo's capital of Pristina, at the main Scanderbeg Square, to chant in support of arrested former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA — a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla group that led the pro-independence fight. The protest was organized by the veterans association known as OVL-UCK under the motto: 'Together against injustice. KLA is glory, not indictment. Today KLA, tomorrow our whole history.' No violence was reported. 'They are heroes,' read one poster, with the names of the four KLA leaders facing trial at the EU-backed Kosovo Specialist Chambers court, based in The Hague, Netherlands. 'The special court is deforming our history, it is showing injustice toward those who fought for human freedom and dignity,' said Hysni Gucati, head of the veterans' organization. Since 2020, four top KLA leaders have been in custody by the court — Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci, former Parliament Speakers Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and ex-lawmaker Rexhep Selimi. They face charges that include murder, torture and persecution of civilians during and after the war. The court and an associated prosecutor's office were created after a 2011 report by the Council of Europe, a human rights body, that included allegations that KLA fighters trafficked human organs taken from prisoners and killed Serbs and fellow ethnic Albanians. The organ harvesting allegations haven't been included in indictments issued by the court. Two other former KLA members have already been sentenced by The Hague court, including Pjetër Shala. Also, Gucati, and another official of the organization have been convicted by the court in the Netherlands of witness intimidation and obstructing justice. Some 11,400 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war, before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of Kosovo and to cede control of its former province to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain high.
14-07-2025
- Politics
Kosovo fighter's sentence cut despite court upholding convictions for murder, torture
A European Union-backed court has upheld convictions against former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter Pjetër Shala for murder, torture and arbitrary detention THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Appeals judges at a European Union-backed court upheld murder, torture and arbitrary detention convictions against a former Kosovo war liberation fighter Monday. But they cut his prison term from 18 years to 13 years, saying judges imposed too harsh a sentence at his trial. Pjetër Shala was convicted a year ago for his role in the abuse of detainees being held by the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, at a makeshift jail in a metal factory in Kukёs, northern Albania, during Kosovo's 1999 war for independence from Serbia. The 62-year-old Shala watched Monday's hearing at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers by videoconference, and shook his head after Judge Kai Ambos of Germany rejected large parts of his appeal and handed down the new sentence. The appeals panel, however, ruled that trial judges wrongly found him guilty of five cases of torture and two of arbitrary detention, saying there was insufficient evidence. But they upheld his convictions on the same counts for other detainees and for his role in the murder of one detainee, who was shot and then denied medical treatment. In reducing his sentence, the three-judge appeals panel ruled that trial judges didn't give sufficient weight to the fact that Shala didn't hold a command role when the man was murdered. The appeals judges also said that the original 18-year sentence was 'out of reasonable proportion to comparable cases,' the court said in a statement. Kosovo's 1998-1999 fight to break away from Serbia was led by the KLA, whose main leaders, including former President Hashim Thaci, are now being tried in The Hague. More than 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war, before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of the country and to cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Kosovo fighter's sentence cut to 13 years despite court upholding convictions for murder and torture
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Appeals judges at a European Union-backed court upheld murder, torture and arbitrary detention convictions against a former Kosovo war liberation fighter Monday. But they cut his prison term from 18 years to 13 years, saying judges imposed too harsh a sentence at his trial. Pjetër Shala was convicted a year ago for his role in the abuse of detainees being held by the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, at a makeshift jail in a metal factory in Kukёs, northern Albania, during Kosovo's 1999 war for independence from Serbia . The 62-year-old Shala watched Monday's hearing at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers by videoconference, and shook his head after Judge Kai Ambos of Germany rejected large parts of his appeal and handed down the new sentence. The appeals panel, however, ruled that trial judges wrongly found him guilty of five cases of torture and two of arbitrary detention, saying there was insufficient evidence. But they upheld his convictions on the same counts for other detainees and for his role in the murder of one detainee, who was shot and then denied medical treatment. In reducing his sentence, the three-judge appeals panel ruled that trial judges didn't give sufficient weight to the fact that Shala didn't hold a command role when the man was murdered. The appeals judges also said that the original 18-year sentence was 'out of reasonable proportion to comparable cases,' the court said in a statement. Kosovo's 1998-1999 fight to break away from Serbia was led by the KLA, whose main leaders, including former President Hashim Thaci , are now being tried in The Hague. More than 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war, before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of the country and to cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
