Ruling/ Presiding Judge Smith details the case of Behajdin Allaqi’s disappearance in the sentencing of four former KLA leaders

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague sentenced the four former KLA leaders to a total of 81 years in prison today: Hashim Thaçi (25 years), Kadri Veseli (18 years), Jukup Krasniqi (25 years) and Rexhep Selimi (13 years).

In the full ruling read by Presiding Judge Charles Smith III, the court detailed the cases in which it found the former leaders had participated, including the disappearance of Behajdin Allaqi.

According to the court, “Behajdin Allaqi had had a serious disagreement with Hashim Thaçi and Azem Syla, who accused him of bringing an alleged Serbian spy, Shaban Shala, into the ranks of the political movement to which they belonged, thereby placing the movement’s members at great risk.”

The court further emphasized in the full ruling: “This resulted in Mr. Thaçi assuming the role that had been promised to Behajdin Allaqi. The Trial Panel also found that, before his disappearance, Behajdin Allaqi had been under surveillance by the KLA intelligence service. Hashim Thaçi and Kadri Veseli had sought information about his presence at the KLA headquarters in Drenoc. On or around June 11, 1998, Behajdin Allaqi left his home and went to the KLA headquarters in Drenoc. Shortly afterward, Mr. Thaçi and Kadri Veseli arrived. They took Behajdin Allaqi away in handcuffs. Behajdin Allaqi was never seen again, and the Trial Panel is satisfied that he was killed.”

Smith went on to read: “To conceal their responsibility, the persons in question took various measures. On November 1, 1998, Communiqué 61 was issued by the KLA General Staff, stating that Behajdin Allaqi had fallen as a martyr in battle. This was a cover-up intended to conceal the truth about what had happened to Behajdin Allaqi. Likewise, after the war, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli and Azem Syla attempted to placate Behajdin Allaqi’s family with bribes and promises so that it would abandon its pursuit of justice and the truth. It is to the family’s extraordinary credit that it resisted these offers.”

Excerpt from the ruling:

Mr. Hashim Thaçi participated in and encouraged the commission of crimes in various ways, including the following. Through the publication of communiqués and political statements, and through the use of “special warfare,” Mr. Thaçi expressed tolerance for and encouragement of the commission of crimes against opponents.

Mr. Thaçi also personally participated in crimes, including the arrest, detention and interrogation of 13 parliamentarians in Qirez and Baicë; the arrest, detention, transfer and unlawful killing of Behajdin Allaqi; and he had knowledge of the arrest and detention of several other individuals.

With regard to Behajdin Allaqi, the Trial Panel found that, in 1993, Behajdin Allaqi had had a serious disagreement with Hashim Thaçi and Azem Syla, who accused him of bringing an alleged Serbian spy, Shaban Shala, into the ranks of the political movement to which they belonged, thereby placing the movement’s members at great risk.

This resulted in Mr. Thaçi assuming the role that had been promised to Behajdin Allaqi. The Trial Panel also found that, before his disappearance, Behajdin Allaqi had been under surveillance by the KLA intelligence service. Hashim Thaçi and Kadri Veseli had sought information about his presence at the KLA headquarters in Drenoc.

On or around June 11, 1998, Behajdin Allaqi left his home and went to the KLA headquarters in Drenoc. Shortly afterward, Mr. Thaçi and Kadri Veseli arrived. They took Behajdin Allaqi away in handcuffs. Behajdin Allaqi was never seen again, and the Trial Panel is satisfied that he was killed.

To conceal their responsibility, the persons in question took various measures. On November 1, 1998, Communiqué 61 was issued by the KLA General Staff, stating that Behajdin Allaqi had fallen as a martyr in battle. This was a cover-up intended to conceal the truth about what had happened to Behajdin Allaqi. Likewise, after the war, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli and Azem Syla attempted to placate Behajdin Allaqi’s family with bribes and promises so that it would abandon its pursuit of justice and the truth. It is to the family’s extraordinary credit that it resisted these offers.