The trial against former KLA leaders, Walker: Justice is not being demonstrated in The Hague, it's a shame

Former OSCE Ambassador William Walker has criticised the ongoing judicial process against former KLA leaders in The Hague.

He has estimated that Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are being wronged a great deal.

In an interview for “Online economy”, he has suggested that the way former KLA leaders are treated is a disgrace to international justice.

I've always been a great fan of The Hague tribunal. I went there to testify against Milosevic. I feel very strongly that what happened here must be revealed again before the world, and a court process is the best way to do that. However, the process that has been imposed on Hashim Thaci, Jakup Krasniqi and Kadri Veselini is not justice. In my opinion, it's an injustice. To have an investigation that lasts almost ten years, then a prosecution that lasts over three years, and to keep the accused in custody by giving them very little access to the world, for me it is a crime”, he said.

The former ambassador has stressed that Specialised Chambers in The Hague are violating any principle of justice.

I really feel that the International Court of Justice in The Hague is not demonstrating justice. I'm demonstrating otherwise. In my opinion, and I thought about the justice system in the United States and around the world where there is justice, the accused is considered innocent until convicted. And you don't put someone in jail for three years while you're holding a trial with 400 witnesses,”, he says.

Walker has also criticised the Special Court's restrictive approach to visitors.

The former American diplomat has indicated that he has attempted to make a visit to The Hague, but has become impossible.

I just think what's happening in The Hague is a shame. And I say that, but for example, I wanted to see if I could visit and greet the former president, the former head of the Parliament. And I'm told, it's very complicated. They do not allow visitors without all kinds of restrictions. To think that you have to keep a former president, a former head of Parliament, in custody because they can escape or install witnesses, is absurd. Therefore, my comments about the process at The Hague are very negative”, Walker noted.