Police clash with Kosovo protesters over bid to curb Hague war crimes court
Summary
Police clashed with protesters outside Kosovo’s Parliament during a debate on limiting the powers of a war crimes court based in The Hague. The protests followed recent convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders for war crimes during the 1998-2000 conflict, with Parliament postponing a vote on proposed changes to the court’s sentencing rules.Key Facts
- Police used tear gas and water cannons to control protesters near Kosovo’s Parliament in Pristina.
- The protests opposed plans to reduce sentences and allow appeals for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a court dealing with war crimes from the Kosovo War.
- The court is based in The Hague, created in 2015, and operates independently to handle alleged crimes by Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members.
- Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former KLA commanders were convicted of war crimes and given sentences from 13 to 25 years.
- Protesters include KLA supporters and veterans who see the court as unfair to their former leaders.
- The Kosovo Parliament delayed a second vote on the bill limiting the court’s powers, after passing a first reading.
- The bill’s passage is linked to Kosovo’s political struggle over electing a new president by October 6 to avoid early elections.
- Kosovo declared independence in 2008 after the 1998-99 war, but Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as a country.
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