FORMER US State Department spokesman James Rubin testified today as the first defence witness for ex-Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, who is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war in which his country broke away from former Yugoslavia with Nato’s help.

Mr Thaci is on trial at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers court in The Hague with three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army guerilla group that fought the predominantly Serb government forces in the war.

Mr Rubin, who was the chief spokesman for then secretary of state Madeleine Albright, described the former president as a political “frontman” without real power.

“It was clear to me that he was not in charge,” Mr Rubin told the court. “He didn’t have the knowledge, the capabilities or the authority to make decisions in any way, shape or form.”

Mr Thaci became president after the war but resigned to defend himself against charges, including murder, persecution, torture and enforced disappearances, against him and Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The trial opened on April 3 2023, with Mr Thaci telling judges that he was innocent. Prosecutors wrapped up their case after calling 125 witnesses.