Keith Self warns The Hague: Decision on Thaçi must not be influenced by political bias, Balkans remains a powder keg

U.S. Congressman Keith Self has raised concerns that decisions by judicial institutions in The Hague could be influenced by political considerations.

His reaction was made public shortly before the verdict was due to be announced in the case against Kosovo’s former president, Hashim Thaçi, and three other former KLA leaders.

In a post on the X platform, Self said that, in cases related to The Hague, concerns had repeatedly emerged about the possible influence of political bias on decision-making processes.

“A continuing theme that appears to be emerging from The Hague is allowing political bias to influence their decisions,” the U.S. congressman wrote.

He stressed that he hoped such influence would not determine the verdict expected to be announced this week against Thaçi and the three other former KLA leaders.

“I hope such bias does not show up this week when a verdict is delivered in the trial of Hashim Thaçi and three Albanian civilians who fought for independence from years of Serbian oppression,” Self said.

Referring to developments in the region, the U.S. congressman also linked the case to the political and security situation in the Balkans.

According to him, tensions and divisions could jeopardize stability, while repressive regimes could exploit them to fuel division instead of contributing to reconciliation.

“The Balkans are a powder keg in a region where repressive regimes would want nothing more than to fan the flames of division rather than work toward reconciliation,” he wrote.

Keith Self’s reaction comes at a time when attention has focused on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague and the verdict in the case involving Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi as defendants.