Former OSCE Ambassador William Walker has criticized the trial of former KLA leaders in The Hague, calling it unjust and a disgrace to international justice.
Former OSCE Ambassador William Walker has harshly criticized the ongoing trial against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) at The Hague, labeling it an injustice and a disgrace to international justice.
In an interview with Ekonomia Online, Walker condemned the prolonged investigation and prosecution process, as well as the treatment of the accused, including Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, and Kadri Veseli, who have been held in detention for years with limited access to the outside world.
Walker’s Criticism of the Process
Walker expressed frustration with the extended nature of the proceedings, stating, “Having an investigation that lasts nearly a decade, followed by a prosecution exceeding three years, while keeping the accused in detention with minimal contact with the world, is a crime in itself.”
He emphasized that the Specialized Chambers in The Hague are undermining the principle of presumed innocence until proven guilty. “Keeping someone in jail for three years while holding a trial with 400 witnesses flagrantly violates this principle,” he stated.
Concerns About Restrictions
Walker also criticized the restrictive approach of the court toward visitors, including his own difficulties in meeting Thaçi and Veseli. He dismissed the court’s justification that the accused might flee or intimidate witnesses as “absurd.”
“The notion that a former president or speaker of parliament must be detained because they could flee or intimidate witnesses is nonsensical. This entire process is a disgrace to international justice,” Walker asserted.
A Broader Critique of The Hague
Walker, who previously testified against Slobodan Milošević in The Hague, expressed disappointment in the current handling of justice. “While I have always admired The Hague for uncovering the truth, what is happening now does not represent justice. It is the opposite,” he said.
A Call for Justice
Walker concluded by calling the trial a failure of international justice. “What’s happening in The Hague is shameful. These leaders deserve a fair and timely process that upholds the integrity of justice, not an endless cycle of delays and restrictions.”
