Hague War Court Rejects Hashim Thaci’s Plea for Release

The appeals chamber at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on Wednesday rejected ex-President Hashim Thaci's plea for conditional release from pre-trial detention because there is still a risk that he might abscond.

Thaci had argued in his appeal that the pre-trial judge was wrong to conclude that he continues to play a significant role and wield influence and authority in Kosovo.

He claimed that he was now in the weakest position of his political career because his party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, did poorly in this year's elections and "can no longer even attract enough support to become a viable opposition". The PDK only won 19 seats in the 120-seat parliament.

Thaci also argued that his status as a high-ranking former Kosovo Liberation Army member "did not automatically, and of itself, provide him with any position of influence or authority after the end of the conflict", a court document said.

The pre-trial judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, which were set up to try former KLA guerrillas for crimes committed during and after the Kosovo war from 1998 to 2000, had argued that Thaci could abscond, obstruct the progress of proceedings at the Hague court, or commit further crimes against those perceived as being opposed to the KLA, including potential witnesses.

The pre-trial judge cited what he said were Thaci's "attempts to undermine the Specialist Chambers and his offer of benefits to persons summoned by the SPO [Sopecialist Prosecutor's Office", as well as the "high risk of intimidation or interference for witnesses and/or their family members", and the "persisting climate of intimidation of witnesses and interference with criminal proceedings against former KLA members".

The appeals chamber...