Haradinaj files for release before trial

Ramush Haradinaj has asked to be released from custody before the start of his trial at the Hague Tribunal. The ethnic Albanian, a former KLA leader and Kosovo PM, is accused of committing war crimes against Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1998. Haradinaj files for release before trial Haradinaj’s defense claimed that the defendant surrendered himself voluntarily to EULEX on July 19 after the Tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest before the verdict was given on the prosecution’s appeal to the original trial against Haradinaj. The Tribunal decided on July 21 that there would be a partial re-trial in the case, and said Haradinaj was "arrested" in Kosovo. The defense also stated that if Haradinaj is released from custody, he would not pose any danger to witnesses or victims, adding that there was no risk that he would flee either. “There was no evidence” that he endanger or threatened any witnesses after being released before the initial trial, the defense states. After his first voluntary surrender in June 2005, Haradinaj was temporarily released from custody by the Tribunal before the trial began in March 2007, and he was allowed a limited public involvement as the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo. The defense is not asking for the limited political involvement this time around. The Hague Tribunal last month ordered a partial retrial in its war crimes case against Haradinaj. He and another member of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were initially acquitted of charged related to killings, torture, rape and intimidation of Serbs, other non-Albanians, but also ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1998, prior to the 1999 war there. But the Hague Appeals Chamber decided that the proceedings were invalid due to witness intimidation, and ordered the retrial.

Haradinaj files for release before trial

Haradinaj’s defense claimed that the defendant surrendered himself voluntarily to EULEX on July 19 after the Tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest before the verdict was given on the prosecution’s appeal to the original trial against Haradinaj.

The Tribunal decided on July 21 that there would be a partial re-trial in the case, and said Haradinaj was "arrested" in Kosovo.

The defense also stated that if Haradinaj is released from custody, he would not pose any danger to witnesses or victims, adding that there was no risk that he would flee either.

“There was no evidence” that he endanger or threatened any witnesses after being released before the initial trial, the defense states.

After his first voluntary surrender in June 2005, Haradinaj was temporarily released from custody by the Tribunal before the trial began in March 2007, and he was allowed a limited public involvement as the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

The defense is not asking for the limited political involvement this time around.

The Hague Tribunal last month ordered a partial retrial in its war crimes case against Haradinaj.

He and another member of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were initially acquitted of charged related to killings, torture, rape and intimidation of Serbs, other non-Albanians, but also ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1998, prior to the 1999 war there.

But the Hague Appeals Chamber decided that the proceedings were invalid due to witness intimidation, and ordered the retrial.