Kosovo's Limaj 'May Face War Crimes Charges'

Pristina daily newspaper Koha Ditore reported today that Limaj, a former transport minister, will soon be officially charged by the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, for war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1999.

The newspaper, which cites its anonymous sources inside the prosecution, says that Limaj has been interviewed, as well as all the other witnesses and indictees, and that the indictment is being finalised.

He will not, however, appear in court today alongside the other men in the case, who are currently being held in detention.

“My client (Limaj) will not appear in court today because there was no invitation by the court. There is no reason to go,” Tome Gashi, Limaj’s attorney, told Balkan Insight.

Limaj was questioned by EULEX prosecutors in March but was not arrested. As a member of parliament, Limaj is granted immunity from prosecution, although that protection can be removed by a vote in the assembly. The immunity does not prevent police from investigating allegations. 

Limaj, considered a hero of the Kosovo Liberation Army, is suspected of ordering and participating in the inhuman torture of Serb and Albanian civilians held in Kleqke camp in Malisevo municipality.

A trial hearing will be held today for the other nine former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA- all Limaj’s fellow fighters - suspected of war crimes committed in Kleqka camp during Kosovo’s 1999 conflict.

The EULEX prosecutor will ask the court to extend the remand detention for the men. 

Limaj, who remains a popular figure in Kosovo, has already faced a separate war crimes trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY.

He was charged, along with Isak Musliu and Haradin Bala, with committing war crimes against Serbs and Albanians suspected of collaborating with Serbia during the Kosovo war.

In November 2005 he was acquitted and returned home to a hero’s welcome, with street celebrations in the capital, Pristina.

MP Limaj is also suspected in a separate case of corruption related to road tenders issued between 2007 and 2009. EULEX raided the Ministry of Transport in April last year during his tenure as minister.

Limaj has denied any wrongdoing.

In an interview for BIRN’s weekly show “Life in Kosovo” last week, the head of EULEX, Xavier De Marnhac, said that investigations are continuing in the corruption probe against Limaj.