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The United Nations tribunal gave a very controversial
verdict yesterday, acquitting Kosovo’s former prime minister and commander of
the Kosovo Liberation army, Ramush Haradinaj of all charges, therefore
exonerating him of all responsibility.
The former leader had been accused of murder, torture and
rape of Serb civilians and non-Albanians during the 1998-1999 battles for
independence from Serbia.
"This is a
verdict that strengthens Kosovo," Haradinaj stated at the finale of his
year-long trial. "We endured a difficult liberation struggle that cost
many lives. Today we are a free and sovereign nation," as quoted by the
Washington Post.
Opinions on the verdict are very controversial, Serbian
Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica accusing the Hague tribunal of mocking
justice and also the innocent victims of Haradinaj’s actions. "The ruling
is truly worrisome. It turns out that crime pays," concluded the Prime Minister
according to the Associated Press.
Minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic stated that he
considers the ruling "catastrophic" and that there will be
undoubtedly legal, political and moral repercussions. Many others were very
disturbed with the decision, demanding an explanation and also the punishment
of the ones guilty for the thousands of deaths during the war.
The judges considered the prosecutor’s evidence as “vague,
inconclusive or nonexistent.” And apparently the reason why the prosecution’s case
was weak involved an uncertainty on witness safety.
Two other men were also on trial: Lahi Brahimaj, one of
Haradinaj’s guerilla war commanders, who was convicted to six years in prison
for torture and cruelty and Idriz Balaj, who was cleared of all charges and was
sent back to Kosovo to complete a previous 15-year prison sentence concerning
other war-related issues.
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