Haradinaj denied temporary release

The Hague Tribunal Friday denied Ramush Haradinaj’s motion for temporary provisional release during the summer.

Izvor: Beta

Saturday, 21.07.2007.

10:55

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Haradinaj denied temporary release

Several prosecution witnesses have said they are unwilling to testify against Haradinaj, who is charged along with two other former leaders of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), with 37 counts of atrocities against Serbs and their suspected ethnic Albanian supporters in Kosovo in 1998.

The charges include murder, torture and rape.

"Many of these witnesses cite fear as a prominent reason" for not testifying, the trial judges said in a written ruling.

They said that, although they had no indication Haradinaj was involved in intimidating witnesses, they believed "this case is being heard in an atmosphere where witnesses feel unsafe and where serious problems arise in ensuring that they testify before the tribunal."

The ruling said the volatile situation in Kosovo, where the majority ethnic Albanian population wants independence from Serbia, had compounded their fears.

Haradinaj had asked to be released from July 20 until August 15 to visit his family, but prosecutors urged judges to reject the request, citing fears of witness intimidation.

The tribunal goes into recess during the summer, and suspects sometimes are allowed to return home if they are not considered a threat to witnesses or likely to go into hiding.

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