On Friday, 25 April 2008, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) lifted a confidentiality order on the indictment against Astrit Haraqija and Bajrush Morina, charging them both with contempt of the Tribunal.

According to the indictment, which was filed by the Prosecution on 8 January 2008, Astrit Haraqija and Bajrush Morina tried to persuade a protected witness not to testify against Ramush Haradinaj in July 2007.

At the time, Haraqija was the Kosovo Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport and one of the three co-founders of the “Defence committee for Ramush Haradinaj”. Bajrush Morina was a political advisor at the Ministry and a part-time editor at the Kosovo newspaper “Bota Sot”.

The indictment states that Haraqija, having learned the identity of the witness in July 2007, instructed Morina to travel to the witnesses’ country of residence in order to persuade him not to testify against Haradinaj.

The case against the former KLA commanders was marred by allegations of witness intimidation. Contempt of court charges (subsequently withdrawn) were issued against two witnesses before they were persuaded to testify in November 2007. A third similar indictment against Sefqet Kabashi remains in force.

Haradinaj acquittal

On 3 April 2008, Trial Chamber I acquitted Ramush Haradinaj and Idriz Balaj of charges relating to crimes committed in Kosovo between March and September 1998. The third accused, Lahi Brahimaj was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for cruel treatment and torture.

In announcing the verdict, the court noted “the significant difficulties encountered by the Chamber in securing testimony of a large number of witnesses” during the trial. Presiding Judge Orie went on to state that the Trial Chamber “gained a strong impression that the trial was being held in an atmosphere where witnesses felt unsafe.”

The Prosecution is currently considering whether to appeal the Haradinaj verdict.

Press release
Initial appearance on Tuesday 29 April