Nasim Haradinaj calls for Kosovo Assembly to convene following guilty verdict in The Hague

Following the guilty verdict handed down by the Specialist Chambers in The Hague against former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi, former KLA War Veterans’ Organization leader Nasim Haradinaj said that the Kosovo Assembly should convene.

Haradinaj expressed dissatisfaction that parliament has yet to hold a session. He stressed that this was his personal position, while others may hold a different view.

Asked whether he was calling for an extraordinary session of the Assembly and the dissolution of the Specialist Chambers, Haradinaj said that an individual may be found guilty, but there should be no collective punishment.

According to him, such a step would be justified, as a contract is broken by the party that violates it first and, in this case, they were not the ones who had breached it. Haradinaj explained that the issue was not only about the sentences, but also about undermining people’s dignity and their motives for seeking freedom, as well as the pride of younger generations in the army they had created.

He added that he himself may be guilty and face punishment, but opposed responsibility being applied collectively. Haradinaj said that, despite efforts to portray the proceedings as a trial of individuals rather than of a political party, the final decision amounted, in his view, to punishment of the entire people.

During the day, dozens of citizens gathered to protest outside the Kosovo Government building after the four former KLA commanders were found guilty.

Tensions flared during the protest, with some participants throwing stones at the Government building and breaking several windows.