Dick Marty: Author of Explosive Kosovo War Crimes Report, Dies at 78

Dick Marty, the Swiss politician and former state prosecutor, passed away on December 28, 2023, at the age of 78.

Renowned for his 2010 report for the Council of Europe, Marty alleged war crimes and organ trafficking by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo War.

Before entering politics, Marty earned the moniker “mafia hunter” as a prosecutor in Switzerland, combating organized crime.

Joining the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 1995 after becoming a senator, Marty’s 2010 report, “Inhumane treatment of people and illegal trafficking of human organs in Kosovo,” spurred the creation of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague to investigate wartime atrocities.

While the report lacked definitive proof, it ignited discussions on human rights violations in the conflict. Marty, throughout his career, advocated for human rights, an independent federal prosecutor in Switzerland, and the decriminalization of abortion.

In 2022, he accused Serbian intelligence of a plot to assassinate him, shedding light on his involvement in the intricate politics of the Balkans.

Dick Marty’s legacy is diverse – a respected politician, unwavering investigator, and a figure sparking controversy.

His Kosovo report indelibly influenced the region’s pursuit of justice and reconciliation.