Tërmkolli rejects threatening rhetoric ahead of The Hague verdict: Thaçi would not have burned Kosovo

One day before the verdict is handed down against the former KLA leaders, former minister and former member of the Assembly of Kosovo Melihate Tërmkolli has reacted to the harsh language used in public discourse.

She called for positions toward the Specialist Chambers to be restrained and supported by arguments, warning that threats could harm Kosovo.

“If he had wanted to burn Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi himself would have done so when he was indicted and summoned to The Hague!” Tërmkolli wrote.

Referring to former President Hashim Thaçi’s reaction at the time, following the confirmation of the indictment, she emphasized that he had chosen to appear publicly before citizens.

“He appeared before the citizens of Kosovo and spoke to them as a statesman and as President! He neither hid nor fled!” she declared.

Tërmkolli also mentioned former Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, saying that he had acted in the same way through institutional channels.

“Kadri Veseli did the same, while serving as Assembly Speaker!” the former minister added.

She described the threatening rhetoric used by some representatives of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and analysts ahead of the verdict as dangerous for the country.

“The reactions and ‘threats’ of the ISIS type from some members of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and some tired analysts are harmful to Kosovo!” Tërmkolli wrote.

According to her, criticism of the alleged deviations by the Specialist Chambers should have been presented in a timely manner and supported by arguments.

“The response to the deviations by the Specialist Chambers should have come on time and with arguments!” she stressed.

At the end of her statement, Tërmkolli distinguished the war fought against the occupier from internal political conflicts, expressing her belief that the former fighters would be released.

“Only Kosovo’s enemies have burned and set it on fire! We fought to liberate it from its enemies and made this country free and independent! I believe in the release of the freedom fighters!” she wrote.

The verdict against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi will be handed down on September 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in The Hague, according to the official announcement by the Specialist Chambers.

The four former KLA leaders are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges they have denied.