Thirteen years ago, on 29 November 2012, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) declared Ramush Haradinaj, Lahi Ibrahimaj, and Idriz Balaj not guilty.
The Hague Tribunal’s decision cleared the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighters of all charges.
The verdict of the partial retrial – which involved accusations of “murder, torture, and cruel treatment, as violations of the laws and customs of war” – was read by the presiding judge, Bakone Justice Moloto.
Large crowds of citizens watched the session live in the city square through giant screens and erupted in cheers and fireworks after the long-awaited ruling that freed former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj.
Ben Emerson, Haradinaj’s lawyer, stated in a press conference that former Chief Prosecutor of the Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, should publicly apologize to Ramush Haradinaj.
The acquittal was welcomed by then-President Atifete Jahjaga and Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.
