After a lengthy legal process, Kosovo is facing the most sensitive days since the trial began in The Hague. On Wednesday, a verdict is expected in the case of former President Hashim Thaçi, former parliamentary speakers Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and former lawmaker Rexhep Selimi.
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The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has accused the four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The indictment includes charges of persecution, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, murder and enforced disappearance.
All the accused have rejected the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
For each of them, the prosecution has sought 45 years in prison. The defense, meanwhile, has requested their acquittal, arguing that neither individual responsibility nor a direct connection between the accused and the alleged crimes has been proven.
According to Reuters, the hearing at which the verdict will be read is scheduled for 10:00 in The Hague, or 08:00 Universal Time.
Public gatherings have been planned in various cities across Kosovo to follow the hearing. In recent days, rallies have also been held in support of the former KLA leaders, calling for their release.
The trial has sparked major opposition in Kosovo. Many citizens and former KLA members view it as biased, while criticism has also been directed at the large number of witnesses who have testified in closed hearings and the lack of full transparency toward the public.
The Specialist Chambers were established by the Kosovo Assembly in 2015, following strong pressure from international allies. They operate in The Hague under Kosovo’s laws, with international judges and prosecutors serving on them.
The verdict is expected to have an impact beyond the fate of the four accused. According to analysts cited by Reuters, it could affect Kosovo’s relations with Western allies, its relations with Serbia and political developments within the country.
An acquittal could create a new political reality, especially for the Democratic Party of Kosovo, which for many years was founded and led by Hashim Thaçi.
If the verdict is a conviction, strong public reactions are expected, and distrust among part of Kosovo’s society toward the Specialist Chambers and the international institutions that supported their creation could increase.
Analyst Agon Maliqi, quoted by Reuters, described the verdict as a “tectonic event” for Kosovo’s politics and society.
However, an acquittal would not necessarily mean Hashim Thaçi’s immediate release. A separate proceeding is under way against him over allegations related to obstructing justice and influencing witnesses, charges that he has also denied.
Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi have been held in pretrial detention in The Hague since November 2020. The judges must now determine whether the prosecution has proven its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt or whether the four accused should be acquitted.
Whatever the outcome, Wednesday’s verdict is expected to mark the beginning of a new legal and political phase, as the parties have the right to appeal it.
