Peter Shala: We fought for freedom of country, not against civilians

Ex-partor of KLA, Peter Shala, at the session where the opening word of defence is held has been declared innocent.

I want to tell you clearly and without a doubt that I am completely innocent of all the charges that have been filed and that they claim to be made to me in this process”, he stressed.

Shala, who is charged with cruel torture committed at the Kukes Metallure between May and June 1999, has stressed that he fought for his country's freedom and not against civilians.

I stand here in front of you, to tell you that I respect justice, never once, these that are charged to me in the indictment, that I have fought for the freedom of my country and my country and nothing more, of a Milosevic criminal regime, but never against civilians. If it's the goal of this institution to punish me for fighting for the freedom of my country, okay, but not this way, to be stained, to relax, these are not our methods... we haven't fought civilians, nor have we anything to do with the charges I've been charged with, they're unknown to”, Shala declared.

Shala's statement, at the request of protection, was made without his oath before the court.

The next session in this case is scheduled for March 27th, where the evidence will be presented.