Dick Marty’s report on Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci has rightly caused quite a storm. Accusing the recently re-elected Kosovo prime
minister of running a mafia-like state, and even controlling a organ-trafficking ring, has not only led to condemnation but is being used by some as an excuse to re-tell conspiracy theories about
what actually happened in the 1990s.
First things first. The CoE report’s accusations should be investigated by at least two courts: ICTY in the Hague and the Kosovo courts (the latter with the help of the 1800-strong EU police-and-justice mission). If any of these fail to take up the task, a court in an EU member-state should take it upon themselves to investigate the allegations. War crimes, which may have occurred, have no statute of limitations and can be taken on by any court, anywhere.
That said, I worked for years in the Balkans and still visit the region regularly so have heard countless of stories of crimes committed by senior figures that were never corroborated in a way that could stand up in court.
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