Two Former KLA Leaders judged for war crimes in Pristina

The trial against two former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, who are charged with war crimes committed against civilians in Albania during the conflict in Kosovo, has gotten underway in Pristina.

The trial of Sabit Geci and Riza Alijabegan began on Monday before a mixed trial chamber of magistrates from Kosovo and the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, and is chaired by EULEX judge Jonathan Welford-Carroll from Britain.

During the first hearing, Geci and Alija pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations in the indictment.

The EULEX Prosecutor’s Office raised the indictment against Geci and Alija in January 2010- the first indictment to be brought in relation to EU investigations into KLA crimes.