Hague Court Reduces Kosovo War Veterans’ Leaders’ Sentences

The appeals panel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on Thursday upheld the convictions of the former leader and deputy leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans' Organisation, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, but reduced their sentences by three months.

The court upheld the original verdict's finding that Gucati and Haradinaj were guilty of obstruction of justice, intimidation and the unauthorised revelation of court information and personal information about protected witnesses in war crimes cases.

However, they were cleared on appeal of obstructing officials in the course of their duty, which led to the sentence reduction.

Presiding judge Michele Picard said the court decided to impose "a sentence of four years and three months' imprisonment including the time spent in detention" since the two men were arrested in September 2020.

"Mr. Gucati and Mr. Haradinaj are to remain in detention at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague until the finalisation of the necessary measures for the transfer to the state they will serve their sentence," judge Picard added.

Acting specialist prosecutor Alex Whiting said in a statement that he welcomes the judgment because it "reinforces the rule of law in Kosovo and sends a clear message to anyone involved in witness intimidation, retaliation against witnesses and obstruction of justice".

Gucati and Haradinaj were originally convicted in May 2022 after the judges concluded that they had the intent to reveal protected information.

The two men were prosecuted after they received batches of legal documents leaked from the Specialist Chambers, which contained confidential information about protected witnesses in cases against KLA ex-guerrillas, including names and...