Trump Inauguration Arrest: Former Kosovo Prime Minister Detained In France En Route To President-Elect's Event

Former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who was tried for war crimes at the Hague, reportedly was arrested Wednesday in France en route to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration due to a 1999 Serbian arrest warrant.

Kosovo, a partially recognized state from the former Yugoslavia, shares strong diplomatic relations with France. Kosovo Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha said efforts are underway to obtain Haradinaj’s release.

Trump's inauguration will take place on Jan. 20 in Washington.

Haradinaj, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), was acquitted of crimes against humanity and war crimes in two trials before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, most recently in 2012. He was detained in 2015 by Slovenian police executing a 2006 Interpol arrest warrant at the request of Serbia. He was released two days later, with officials citing diplomatic immunity.

It was unclear whether Haradinaj actually was invited to the inauguration since ambassadors posted to the United States generally are the only foreign dignitaries who attend, except maybe the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Serbian broadcaster B92, however, reported there has been considerable bragging in Eastern Europe among leaders who say they were invited.

Haradinaj was cleared of charges he tortured and killed Serbs and ethnic Albanians at the KLA-run detention center in Jablanica in 1998. He currently leads the opposition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party but has given up his seat in Parliament.

Serbian newspaper Blic reported in November that Haradinaj's followers are responsible for smuggling weapons through Serbia that wind up in various Islamist war zones. The operation reportedly is run by Haradinaj’s brother, Daut, who is on the U.S. State Department blacklist.

Haradinaj has denied the allegations, saying opponents are trying to undermine his influence. He called the weapons-smuggling operation “science fiction.”

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. Serbia, however, still considers Kosovo a province, but does recognize the elected government’s right to administer the territory.