A large batch of evidence was submitted by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague, in the last moments, before the deadline for presenting its case against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army closed. Among the many materials, there are also documents from official Belgrade institutions. The Specialist judges admitted them in the trial. Nacionale brings details.
Documents issued by the Serbian state security department. From the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP). From the so-called Joint Command for “Kosovo and Metohija”. All this evidence with the stamp of various institutions of official Belgrade will weigh heavily on the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army who are being tried in The Hague.
This is the decision made by the judges of the Special Court, largely approving the request of the Specialized Prosecution Office for the admission of the latest evidence in the trial.
In the decision seen by Nacionale, among the documents, there is one that bears the seal of the state security department in Serbia.
“With regard to the Serbian Reports, the Panel notes that Proposed Exhibits 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28-30, 33-36, 40-41, 48 and 49 are dated, stamped, bear a title and a protocol or reference number, and indicate their classification. Furthermore, they are either signed or identify the respective issuing authority. The Panel further notes that Proposed Exhibit 39 is dated and bears a title “Department of State Security”. The Panel also notes the SPO’s claims that the content of Proposed Exhibit 39 is consistent, in part, with information contained in other exhibits in the file. Furthermore, Proposed Exhibits 43-45 are dated, bear a document classification and bear a protocol number. In addition, Proposed Exhibit 45 is signed. “With respect to Proposed Exhibit 51, the Panel notes that it consists of [REDACTED]. For these reasons, the Panel is satisfied that the Serbian Reports are prima facie authentic,” the Special Court decision states.
A number of pieces of evidence that were admitted in the trial of the KLA leaders are documents from the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP).
“Turning to the Miscellaneous Serbian Documents, the Panel notes that Proposed Exhibits 21, 25, 32 and 64 are dated, bear a reference number and an inscription from the Serbian Ministry of Interior, and identify the respective issuing authorities. Proposed Exhibit 32 is also stamped and bears the signatures of the individuals who received the document. In addition, Proposed Exhibit 46 bears an inscription from the Serbian Ministry of Interior and indicates a date and place of issuance,” the document further states, Nacional reports.
Other documents are some notes taken at meetings of the so-called Joint Command for “Kosovo and Metohija.” This so-called command, during the war, had the aim of planning operations against the Kosovo Liberation Army, as well as being accused by the Hague Tribunal of committing war crimes in Kosovo.
Despite this, with the reference “Kosovo and Metohija”, all of these have been accepted as evidence in the cases of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi.
“Furthermore, with regard to Proposed Exhibit 47, the Panel notes that: (i) pages 03085485-03085513, 03085559-03085561, 03085564-03085565, 03085568-03085569, 03085572-03085575, 03085583-03085585, and 03085588-03085589 contain notebook entries on meetings of the Joint Command of Kosovo and Metohija, which include the dates of the respective meetings, as well as the names of some of the participants in these meetings; and (ii) page 03085476 contains the first page of the notebook. For these reasons, the Panel is satisfied that the Miscellaneous Serbian Documents are prima facie authentic,” the decision states.
Other evidence accepted, in addition to these from Serbian institutions, consists of various articles in the media, books, and documents, which, according to the judges, are important as they testify to the structure of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“With regard to the relevance of Proposed Exhibits 1-76, the Panel notes the submissions of the SPO that they relate to: (i) the role and authority of the Accused within the KLA and/or the Provisional Government of Kosovo (“PGOK”); 51 (ii) the structure and organization of the KLA; 52 (iii) the specific crimes charged in the Indictment; 53 (iv) the establishment and functioning of the KLA General Staff (“SHP”); 54 (v) the establishment and functioning of the PGOK (provisional government) and (vi) the existence of an armed conflict and the relevant military operations of the KLA. More specifically, the Panel notes that: (i) Proposed Exhibits 4-7, 10, 12-15,57 25, 31, 33,58 34, 37, 39, 40, 43-48, 53, 62, 63,59 66-69 and 76 consist of media articles from various broadcast and media services containing interviews with the Accused, discussing their authority, roles and positions within the PGoK or the KLA HQ, or reporting on public statements made by them on contemporary diplomatic or political issues,” the document states.
Several video clips containing interviews with KLA members, about the role and command structure, were also accepted.
“Proposed Exhibits 80, 88 and 95 consist of an article and video clips relating to certain crimes allegedly committed by members of the KLA in April 1998, March 1999 and June 1999; and (iii) Proposed Exhibits 81, 83, 87, 101, 96 and 97 consist of an article and video clips containing interviews of alleged members of the KLA and news reports relating to the hierarchy, structure and organisation of the KLA,” it further states.
Other evidence includes books published by Jakup Krasniqi, various articles, manuscripts, and even an interview by Kadri Veseli with journalist Baton Haxhiu.
The admission of this evidence was opposed by the defense of the KLA leaders.