Calls for calm, unity and respect for institutions after The Hague judgment

Following the announcement of the judgment in The Hague against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi, political analysts and civil society activists are calling for calm, political and institutional unity after the decision by the Specialist Chambers concerning the former KLA leaders.

Some of them point out that this is a first-instance decision and that the conclusion of the appeals process must be awaited, while rejecting any attempt to escalate the situation.

They also stress that Kosovo’s institutions must act in accordance with the law and coordinate with the United States, the European Union and international partners.

Both positions emphasize that the Special Court was established with the votes of the Kosovo Assembly and that dissolving it is not a simple legal process.

They are also calling for justice to continue its work and for responsibility to be established through judicial proceedings, while respecting the right to a defense and to appeal.

In the end, it is emphasized that unity, calm and respect for institutions and the law are essential to overcoming this situation.

Saim Tahiraj: Wait for the appeals ruling, as befits a civilized people – the state above all

Activist and analyst Saim Tahiraj has reacted to the responses following the conviction of four members of the KLA General Staff by the Special Court, posing the question: “Why all this commotion?”

According to him, the decision was met with “unprecedented revolts”, which escalated into attacks on local police in The Hague and on the Kosovo Police.

Tahiraj recalls that this is a first-instance decision and that the parties have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeals, while criticizing those who, “manipulated by certain circles”, attack the Special Court with arrogance, insults and degrading epithets.

“I still do not fully understand the motivation behind this uncontrolled revolt and its ultimate purpose,” Tahiraj says. According to him, based on what he has seen so far, the main objective appears to be the dissolution of the Special Court. “But why?” he asks.

Tahiraj stresses that the ruling also mentions several other names and that there may be other people who will be tried in the future but whose identities have not yet been made public.

“With the exception of the families of those convicted, for whom I feel very sorry, these others are not concerned about the convicted individuals but about themselves,” he told Bota sot.

He maintains that the Special Court should not be dissolved and calls for the proceedings to continue until the cases have been fully clarified.

“This Court must not be dissolved under any circumstances. It must continue with investigations and arrests until the cases are fully clarified and, ultimately, justice is served,” Tahiraj says.

According to him, all those responsible must answer for their actions and receive the punishment they deserve if their guilt is established by the courts.

Tahiraj says he has also seen statements by several LDK figures which, in his view, were highly offensive to the families of those killed.

“Many of them have benefited politically from political killings in every campaign, while now they come out on the opposite side of justice. Shame on you, spineless people!” Tahiraj says.

He also rejects the characterization of the Special Court as “pro-Serb” and “pro-Russian”, as well as claims that it is financed by them. According to Tahiraj, such an approach constitutes “one of the greatest insults to the friendly states that helped us liberate ourselves and build our own state”.

Tahiraj also highlights the international composition of the judicial panels.

“The judges who come from the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Finland represent friendly states and institutions of justice. They deserve respect, not insults and threats,” he says.

In the end, Tahiraj calls on citizens to await the decision of the Court of Appeals and avoid tensions.

“Wait for the decision of the Court of Appeals, as befits a civilized people. Do not disturb the country and do not cloud the minds of those who are easily manipulated,” he says.

He also addresses other people who may feel threatened by the judicial proceedings, stressing that “you have no reason to be afraid if you are innocent”.

According to him, everyone must submit to justice and have the opportunity to defend their innocence in a fair trial.

“The state above all! It can be sustained only by respecting the laws and justice,” Tahiraj stresses.

He concludes his reaction with an appeal to the Special Court: “Special Court, keep moving forward!” For many families of victims of political killings and other crimes, he adds, uncovering the truth and delivering justice remain a great hope.

Gani Qarri: The Special Court was created with the votes of a majority of MPs, while its abolition cannot take place without agreement from the United States, the EU and friendly countries

Columnist and activist Gani Qarri has reacted to calls for the abolition of the Special Court following the September 16, 2026 judgment against four former KLA leaders.

Qarri recalls that the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo were established on August 3, 2015, on the basis of an agreement with the international community that was approved by an overwhelming majority of members of the Kosovo Assembly.

According to him, their establishment, organization, functions and jurisdiction are regulated by law and are also incorporated into the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.

In this context, Qarri raises questions about the position of the PDK.

“But I seriously do not understand where the PDK gets the courage to address the Kosovo Assembly and Government with a request for a resolution against the Special Court’s decision or a call for its complete abolition,” he says.

Qarri also links this demand to recent institutional developments, arguing that just two days earlier the PDK had submitted two requests to the Constitutional Court seeking to have the constitution of the Assembly and the formation of the Government declared unlawful and unconstitutional.

According to him, the PDK should first withdraw these requests and make “the urgent expulsion of MPs P. Gruda and A. Tahiri from its ranks”.

On the other hand, Qarri considers it significant that, despite the noise in the streets, squares and media in support of those convicted, the MPs who voted for the Special Court in 2015 have not declared that they regret their vote.

“Not a single MP has withdrawn their vote, even declaratively, for the approval of the Special Court on August 3, 2015, in the Assembly,” he says.

According to Qarri, those who are now defending and strengthening the state of Kosovo are the country’s leaders and the Government. He stresses that they are “the only ones in Kosovo who did not vote for the Special Court” and claims that they liberated the north of the country, restored law and order, and returned dignity and security to citizens. For this reason, he says, “the outbursts against them are unworthy and entirely misdirected”.

Returning to the manner in which it was created, Qarri stresses that the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office were established by the people who are now convicted, with the overwhelming majority of votes cast by members of the Kosovo Assembly. “The Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo were created precisely by those who are now convicted, with the overwhelming majority of votes cast by members of the Kosovo Assembly,” he says.

He points out that the Special Court was also incorporated through a specific article into the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.

For this reason, Qarri says that “it is impossible for the Court to be abolished without agreement from the United States, the EU and the friendly countries of our state”.

Regarding the powers of the Kosovo Government, Qarri stresses that it has no legal or statutory authority to intervene in the judicial proceedings of the Specialist Chambers.

According to him, the Government’s constitutional and legal powers are limited to ensuring respect for human rights if those rights are violated in the case of defendants before this court.

Qarri recalls that the Specialist Chambers are temporary institutions, with a mandate and jurisdiction defined for crimes against humanity, war crimes and other unlawful crimes committed between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2000, in Kosovo.

He stresses that, although their headquarters are in The Hague, Netherlands, they continue to operate under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Kosovo, while all their personnel are international, “from the prosecutors and judges to the administrators of the Specialist Chambers”.

Despite these circumstances, however, following the announcement of the judgment in The Hague, Qarri says that calls are being made for the abolition of the Special Court, a demand he considers impossible.

He argues that even after the September 16, 2026, decision concerning the four defendants, “the entire trial process has still not been completed”.

According to Qarri, the Special Court is in the final phase of completing the mission for which it was established and will, in his view, dissolve on its own.

“Now only the appeals and the decision of the Court of Appeals are expected to follow, since there are no other defendants available for trial,” he says.

Meanwhile, he stresses that appeals, in addition to being filed by the defense, may also be filed by the Prosecution with the aim of expanding and reinstating parts of the indictment that were dismissed by the Specialist Chambers. According to him, this could prolong the trial proceedings.

In conclusion, Qarri stresses that these developments, in his view, “in no way constitute any form of certainty that the Special Court will be abolished and the former KLA leaders released”.

He concludes his reaction by once again recalling that none of the MPs who voted to establish the Special Court on August 3, 2015, has declared regret for the vote they cast, while today this court is handing down sentences against former KLA leaders.