Kosovo rebel veterans' leaders deny charges over leaked witness data

Leader of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans' association Hysni Gucati appears in court before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers on charges of obstruction and intimidation for allegedly revealing names of protected witnesses who testified before the special war crimes court, in The Hague, Netherlands October 7, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van De Wouw/Pool

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans' association pleaded not guilty at a war crimes tribunal on Thursday to charges of obstruction and intimidation for allegedly revealing names of protected witnesses.

Prosecutors allege Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, who run the association, gave Kosovo media and politicians confidential court documents last year that included names and personal data from witnesses involved in war crimes cases.