Foreign Policy Blogs

Serbia investigating Del Ponte allegations

Serbian media reports that the Serbian government is investigating accusations by former ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte that Serbian Kosovars were kidnapped and murdered and had their organs harvested by Kosovar Albanian paramilitaries during the 1998-99 war. The tribunal itself has refused to reinvestigate the allegations, averring that a 2004 investigation had not turned up any reliable evidence.

The allegations, and ICTY's refusal to investigate, which roughly coincided with the surprise acquittal of former Kosovar Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj (which the Prosecutor's office is appealing), have sparked a firestorm of controversy in Serbia. The controversy threatens to further complicate the delicate politics of the region, and further undermine the Tribunal in Serbia.

 

Author

Arthur Traldi

Arthur Traldi is an attorney in Pennsylvania. Before the Pennsylvania courts, Arthur worked for the Bosnian State Court's Chamber for War Crimes and Organized Crime. His law degree is from Georgetown University, and his undergraduate from the College of William and Mary.

Area of Focus
International Law; Human Rights; Bosnia

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