PRISTINA, Kosovo — A European Union-supported court has issued warrants for the arrest of three additional war veterans from Kosovo, citing alleged violations related to the administration of justice.
A confirmation from the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, headquartered in The Hague, highlighted that these operations in Kosovo were carried out with the authorization of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and backed by the EU’s Rule of Law Mission, known as EULEX.
Local media sources reported that three individuals had been detained in connection with these proceedings.
The tribunal in The Hague, along with a corresponding prosecutor’s office, was established following a 2011 report from the Council of Europe. This report, which focused on human rights, contained accusations against members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) regarding the trafficking of human organs from prisoners and the killing of Serbs as well as ethnic Albanians. However, the serious allegations of organ harvesting have not formed part of the formal charges brought before the court.
Since November 2020, several prominent figures from the KLA, who played significant roles in the 1998-1999 conflict for Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, have been in detention. These include former President Hashim Thaci, ex-Parliamentary Speaker Kadri Veseli, and former parliamentary member Rexhep Selimi, all currently facing serious charges including murder, torture, and persecution both during and after the war.
Additionally, two other veterans have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in war crimes. Convictions have also been secured against two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association for witness intimidation and obstructing justice, reflecting increasing scrutiny on actions from that period.
In total, approximately 13,000 people succumbed during the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo, the vast majority of whom were ethnic Albanians. A NATO air campaign that lasted 78 days, aimed at halting the actions of Serbian forces, concluded the fighting. Nevertheless, relations between Kosovo and Serbia continue to be marked by tension.
Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008, a declaration that has not been recognized by Belgrade, nor by its major allies, including Russia and China, which adds to the ongoing complexities of the region’s political dynamics.