Labeling opponents as “spies” and “traitors” before arrests and killings: what the Hague court uncovered

People viewed as political opponents were systematically labeled “traitors,” “spies” and “Serbian collaborators” before being deprived of their liberty, mistreated and, in some cases, killed. This is one of the key findings in the summary of the judgment recently handed down in The Hague.

The Trial Panel emphasized that, with very few exceptions, there was no evidence that the detained individuals had committed criminal offenses, taken part in battles or posed any real danger. The court also stressed that there were no convincing facts showing that most of the victims were actually collaborators or spies, as elements of the Kosovo Liberation Army claimed.

According to the Trial Panel, during interrogation sessions, detainees were questioned about their places of employment, their alleged relations with Serbian forces, why they had not joined the ranks of the Kosovo Liberation Army and why they were suspected of espionage. One of the detainees was even asked to explain why he was not at Thaçi’s side.

The list of accusations leveled against the detainees included a range of labels. They were treated as “Serbian collaborators,” “spies,” “traitors” and “Rugova’s soldiers.” They were also labeled supporters of the Democratic League of Kosovo, members or sympathizers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo, and opponents of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

In some cases, people were forced to draft written statements and denounce the names of others suspected of being collaborators. Nevertheless, the court concluded that, in some situations, these arrests may have been motivated by personal feuds. Despite this, members of the Kosovo Liberation Army formalized the deprivations of liberty without checking the source or veracity of the allegations at all. Afterward, the detainees were labeled spies or collaborators, subjected to mistreatment and, in specific cases, executed.

The Trial Panel described this scheme as an integral part of the so-called “special warfare”: a preconceived narrative portraying opponents as collaborators with Serbian structures or as an obstacle to the Kosovo Liberation Army’s objectives. In the court’s assessment, this narrative served to legitimize and encourage the violence inflicted against them.

In particular, the narrative targeted individuals associated with other political and military forces, mainly the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo. This category also included people suspected of ties to the Serbian authorities, as well as members of the Roma and Serbian communities.

The judgment was issued at first instance, and the parties have the right to appeal it.