Kosovo veteran calls prosecution 'biased' at special court

deputy he of an association of Kosovo war veterans called prosecutors who have charged him with offenses including intimidating potential witnesses “selective, political and biased,” at a hearing Friday at a war crimes court.

Nasim Harinaj declined to enter a plea to charges during his appearance at Kosovo Specialist Chambers. leer of association, Hysni Gucati, is scheduled to appear before a pre-trial judge later Friday.

y both have been indicted on allegations of endangering potential witnesses in war crimes cases by releasing ir names publicly.

“This prosecution is selective, political and biased,” Harinaj said at his first court appearance since being indicted. His lawyer, Toby Cman, said Harinaj would enter a plea to charges at his next appearance, early next year.

veterans association represents former ethnic Albanian separatists who fought Serbian troops in Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war for independence. Hague-based special court is investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to conflict.

It has indicted suspects including former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci on charges of murder, torture and persecution linked to conflict. Thaci denies charges.

court and a linked prosecutor's office was established following a 2011 report by Council of Europe, a human rights body, that included allegations that Kosovo Liberation Army fighters trafficked human organs taken from prisoners and killed Serbs and fellow ethnic Albanians. organ harvesting allegations weren’t included in indictment against Thaci.

In 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, a move that Belgre refuses to recognize.

(Im credit: AP)