The testimony of former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers will continue tomorrow, September 17, after today’s session came to an end.
Rubin began his testimony on September 15, as part of the defense case in the trial against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA/UCK).
During his statements, Rubin stressed that the KLA did not have effective command and control, underlining that Hashim Thaçi played more of a political role rather than exercising authority over the KLA.
Expressing concern about the length of pre-trial detention, Rubin said:
“What worries me is the fact that [the former KLA leaders] have been held in detention for so long, despite having surrendered voluntarily.”
He further argued that this treatment was “unusual and not justice”, noting that legal experts had described the process as highly irregular for a statesman who had willingly submitted himself to the court.
The former KLA leaders, including Thaçi, face war crimes charges and have been in detention since November 2020. All have pleaded not guilty.
