Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Social Democratic Initiative and a former KLA commander, has stated that holding elections at this time would, in his view, amount to abandoning institutional responsibility and giving up efforts to support the former KLA leaders facing legal proceedings in The Hague.

During the “Debat Plus” program, Limaj argued that an electoral process could be followed by a six-month period without functioning institutions, while the legal proceedings in The Hague would continue.

“If we go to elections, we are doing so to evade this responsibility. It means giving up on their defense. If we go to elections, these people want to evade the responsibility they must assume. You would also have no institutions here for six months, while the proceedings are carried out there. And goodbye—that is the result,” Limaj stated.

According to him, Kosovo’s institutions should continue functioning and take concrete action regarding the former KLA leaders, including examining the possibility of intervening in the legal framework.

“People must take responsibility; they must go to elections. We do not want to seek solutions, we do not want to move forward with this matter. We must return through the law, we must examine it, we must work, we must seek, we must go and obtain [results],” he said.

Limaj stated that so far he had not received any contact from the government or opposition parties to contribute to this matter.

He stressed that he was ready to help if the institutions needed his experience or suggestions.

“I am ready, if they need my help. Whatever they need—my services or my ideas. So far, no one has contacted me. If they do not need me, let them say so,” Limaj stated.

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Fatmir Limaj, kryetari i Nismës Socialdemokrate dhe ish-komandant i UÇK-së, ka deklaruar se mbajtja e zgjedhjeve në këtë periudhë do të nënkuptonte, sipas tij, largim nga përgjegjësia institucionale dhe braktisje të përpjekjeve për të mbështetur ish-drejtuesit e UÇK-së që po përballen me procesin gjyqësor në Hagë.

Gjatë emisionit “Debat Plus”, Limaj argumentoi se një proces zgjedhor mund të pasohej nga një periudhë gjashtëmujore pa institucione funksionale, ndërkohë që procedurat gjyqësore në Hagë do të vijonin.

“Nëse shkohet në zgjedhje, shkohet me i ikë kësaj prej përgjegjësisë. Është me heq dorë nga mbrojtja e tyre. Nëse shkohet në zgjedhje, këta njerëz po duan me iu shmangë përgjegjësisë së tyre që duhet me marrë. Edhe gjashtë muaj nuk ke institucione këtu, ndërsa atje kryhen procedurat. Dhe mirëupafshim, ky është rezultati”, ka deklaruar Limaj.

Sipas tij, institucionet e Kosovës duhet të vijojnë funksionimin dhe të ndërmarrin veprime konkrete për çështjen e ish-krerëve të UÇK-së, përfshirë edhe analizimin e mundësisë për ndërhyrje në kuadrin ligjor.

“Njerëzit duhet me e heqë përgjegjësinë, duhet me shku në zgjedhje. S’po duam me kërku punë, s’po duam me e ecë me këtë punë. Përmes ligjit duhet me u kthye, duhet me shiku, duhet me punu, duhet me kërku, duhet me shku me marrë”, është shprehur ai.

Limaj ka deklaruar se deri tani nuk ka marrë asnjë kontakt nga Qeveria apo nga partitë opozitare për të dhënë kontributin e tij në lidhje me këtë çështje.

Ai theksoi se është i gatshëm të ndihmojë në rast se institucionet kanë nevojë për përvojën ose sugjerimet e tij.

“Unë e kam gatishmërinë time, nëse kanë nevojë për ndihmën time. Për çfarëdo që kanë nevojë, për shërbimet e mia, për idetë e mia. Deri sot nuk më ka kontaktuar kush. Nëse nuk kanë nevojë, le të thonë”, ka deklaruar Limaj.

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The chairman of Nisma, Fatmir Limaj, said that the verdict of the Special Court in The Hague had strengthened Kosovo citizens’ sense of pride in the Kosovo Liberation Army and its role in liberating the country.

During today’s “Not in my name” protest, Limaj said the decision had highlighted what, in his view, had always been clear: the KLA is part of the national identity and Kosovo’s freedom.

He said that the situation created after the Hague decision had demonstrated the people’s strong connection with the KLA. According to Limaj, this has also been reflected in the boys and girls who feel proud of their fathers, since their contribution brought freedom, the state and everything enjoyed today.

Limaj stressed that the verdict should not be viewed solely from the perspective of the individuals on trial, as, according to him, it is linked to an attempt to erase and rewrite Kosovo’s history.

“This verdict is not only about the individual. It seeks to erase one history and write another. The state and people of Kosovo will not allow their history to be rewritten,” he declared.

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Kryetari i Nismës, Fatmir Limaj, deklaroi se aktgjykimi i Gjykatës Speciale në Hagë ka forcuar te qytetarët e Kosovës ndjenjën e krenarisë për Ushtrinë Çlirimtare të Kosovës dhe rolin e saj në çlirimin e vendit.

Gjatë protestës së sotme “Jo në emrin tim”, Limaj tha se vendimi ka nxjerrë në pah atë që, sipas tij, ka qenë gjithmonë e qartë: UÇK-ja është pjesë e identitetit kombëtar dhe e lirisë së Kosovës.

Ai u shpreh se situata e krijuar pas vendimit të Hagës ka dëshmuar lidhjen e fortë të popullit me UÇK-në. Sipas Limajt, kjo është reflektuar edhe te djemtë dhe vajzat që ndihen krenarë për baballarët e tyre, pasi kontributi i tyre solli lirinë, shtetin dhe gjithçka që gëzohet sot.

Limaj theksoi se aktgjykimi nuk duhet parë vetëm në këndvështrimin e individëve që po gjykohen, pasi ai, sipas tij, lidhet me një përpjekje për të fshirë dhe rishkruar historinë e Kosovës.

“Ky aktgjykim nuk ka të bëjë vetëm me individin. Ai synon të fshijë një histori dhe të shkruajë një tjetër. Shteti dhe populli i Kosovës nuk do të lejojnë që historia t’u rishkruhet”, deklaroi ai.

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The judgment against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi has included in its reasoning seven other KLA figures: Lahi Brahimaj, Fatmir Limaj, Sylejman Selimi, Rrustem Mustafa, Latif Gashi, Shukri Buja and Sabit Geci.

These seven individuals were not accused in this trial. They did not sit in the dock, did not have defense teams to challenge the evidence, and no guilty verdict was issued against them.

Yet their names are now part of an international judgment and are linked in it to a serious legal characterization. This raises the question of how someone can be described as a participant in a criminal enterprise without being accused and without having had the opportunity to defend themselves.

The case is complicated also because the mention of these individuals was not made simply within the context of the KLA’s history. According to the reasoning of the trial panel, some of them served as links between the four convicted men and actions carried out on the ground by other persons.

The four former KLA leaders were convicted on the basis of the role that, according to the court, they had in a joint criminal enterprise. The court described its purpose as the identification, arrest, detention, mistreatment and, in certain cases, murder of persons considered opponents, “spies” or “collaborators.”

Because the accused were not themselves present at every detention site and were not alleged to have personally committed all the crimes, the court needed to explain who implemented this purpose across different areas and structures.

In this context, Fatmir Limaj, Sabit Geci, Rrustem Mustafa and Latif Gashi were characterized by the trial panel as “zealous implementers” of the criminal purpose that, according to the judgment, targeted opponents. Thus, the seven names were used in building the argument linking the four convicted men to crimes committed by other persons.

However, being mentioned in a judgment is not the same as being found guilty. A person’s name in judicial reasoning does not constitute an indictment, an arrest warrant, a criminal complaint, a guilty verdict or a prison sentence.

Even the summary of the judgment emphasizes that no guilt was established against the seven individuals and that they continue to be protected by the presumption of innocence. If in the future the Prosecution were to file an indictment against any of them, a new trial would have to take place.

In such a trial, individual responsibility would have to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. The accused would have the right to challenge witnesses, documents and the interpretation of events. For this reason, the judgment against the four cannot automatically be transformed into a guilty verdict against the other seven individuals.

The most debated issue relates to their right to defend themselves. The seven figures were not parties to the proceedings, yet they are linked in the judgment to an enterprise described as criminal. They could not present a specific defense against this characterization, nor could they challenge it through the same appellate remedies available to the four convicted men.

Geoffrey Nice, former prosecutor at the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, has called the manner of including these seven names unprecedented. In his view, the court could have described the enterprise as carried out by the accused and other persons without it being necessary for unaccused individuals to be publicly identified.

Nevenka Tromp, a researcher at the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, interpreted this as a kind of “retrospective criminalization” of the central leadership structure of the KLA. These positions are expert assessments and not legal decisions, but they show that the publication of the names of unaccused persons may be one of the most controversial points of the judgment.

So far there is no public announcement that the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office is preparing an indictment against any of the seven individuals. The Prosecution has known the names and the allegations since the indictment against the four was filed in 2020. The fact that no separate indictment has been filed in six years is an important indicator, although it does not constitute an absolute legal guarantee.

Their procedural positions are not the same. Lahi Brahimaj and Fatmir Limaj were tried and acquitted by the Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Limaj was also acquitted in the “Klečka” and “Bellanica” cases in Kosovo.

Sylejman Selimi, Rrustem Mustafa and Latif Gashi have gone through judicial proceedings in Kosovo for war crimes. Selimi was acquitted in the retrial of one of the cases.

Sabit Geci was convicted in Kosovo of war crimes against civilians, while Shukri Buja has not been tried for war crimes. According to his statement, the Specialist Prosecution closed the investigation against him in 2024.

According to lawyer Artan Qerkini, the Prosecution discontinued investigations against Sylejman Selimi in February 2025.

The principle prohibiting double jeopardy protects persons for acts and facts that have already been addressed by a final decision. However, this principle does not necessarily preclude the investigation of another event, if it was not part of the previous trial.

Likewise, the closure of an investigation is not always equivalent to a final judgment. In certain circumstances, an investigation may be reopened if new evidence emerges. Currently, however, there is no public data suggesting that such a thing is happening.

For the moment, the most direct consequence for the seven individuals is not arrest or indictment, but potential political and reputational damage. The characterization included in the judgment may be repeated in international reports, political debates, media and Serbian propaganda, even though they were not tried in this process.

There is also a risk that public opinion may not distinguish a person mentioned in the reasoning of a judgment from a person found guilty. Therefore, every media report must clarify that the seven figures were not convicted by the judgment of September 16.

The defense of Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi is expected to challenge on appeal the existence, composition and alleged purpose of the joint criminal enterprise. If the second instance changes this part of the judgment, the legal framework in which the seven figures were mentioned may also change.

In any case, they do not have the same possibility of appeal, since they were not parties to the proceedings. They cannot appeal the judgment as if they were accused persons, even though their names are now included in the findings of the first instance.

Herein lies the main paradox: the judgment may have a huge impact on their reputations, but they do not have at their disposal all the legal remedies that an accused person would have to challenge these findings.

The court needed to explain how, in its view, the alleged criminal purpose was implemented from the leadership structures down to the ground. But the public identification of people who were not accused raises serious questions about procedural fairness and their right to be heard.

The seven figures were not found guilty and cannot be publicly treated as convicted persons. At the same time, their mention is not an insignificant detail, because it was used as part of the legal mechanism through which the court built the responsibility of the four convicted men.

Whether this reasoning will survive the appeals process remains to be seen. Until then, the essential distinction must be preserved: four people have been convicted at first instance, while seven others have been mentioned without being accused and continue to be presumed innocent.

Sources: Public summary of the judgment of the Specialist Chambers; Radio Free Europe; statements by Geoffrey Nice, Nevenka Tromp, Artan Qerkini and Shukri Buja.

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Fatmir Limaj has commented on the Special Court’s verdict concerning former KLA leaders, describing it as unexpected, undeserved and unjust.

“Today we received bad, unexpected, undeserved and unjust news from The Hague. The first-instance guilty verdict was handed down against the founders of the KLA and the state of Kosovo,” Limaj declared.

He stressed that the decision is unacceptable and does not represent the position of the people of Kosovo or his personal position.

“This verdict is unjust and unacceptable. It is not in the name of the people of Kosovo, nor in my name. I know that today we are all saddened, disappointed and desperate, but we must not allow anyone to misuse these feelings against our country. Let us turn our disappointment, desperation and sadness into a common strength, so that we can continue the battles ahead until the complete victory of our fellow fighters and Kosovo,” he said.

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Fatmir Limaj ka komentuar vendimin e Gjykatës Speciale për ish-krerët e UÇK-së, duke e cilësuar atë si të papritur, të pamerituar dhe të padrejtë.

“Sot nga Haga morëm lajme të këqija, të papritura, të pamerituara dhe të padrejta. U shpall aktgjykimi dënues i shkallës së parë ndaj themeluesve të UÇK-së dhe të shtetit të Kosovës”, deklaroi Limaj.

Ai theksoi se vendimi është i papranueshëm dhe nuk përfaqëson qëndrimin e popullit të Kosovës apo të tijin personal.

“Ky aktgjykim është i padrejtë dhe i papranueshëm. Ai nuk është në emër të popullit të Kosovës dhe as në emrin tim. E di se sot të gjithë jemi të mërzitur, të zhgënjyer dhe të dëshpëruar, por nuk duhet të lejojmë që dikush t’i keqpërdorë këto ndjenja kundër vendit tonë. Ta shndërrojmë zhgënjimin, dëshpërimin dhe mërzinë tonë në forcë të përbashkët, për të vazhduar betejat e ardhshme deri në fitoren e plotë të bashkëluftëtarëve tanë dhe të Kosovës”, tha ai.

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According to Limaj, such an inclusion is unacceptable and undermines the history of the liberation war. He stressed that the “foundations of freedom” must not be touched because of the interests or clashes of day-to-day politics.

In his reaction, Limaj focused on the figure of martyr Tahir Sinani, whom he described as one of the most powerful symbols of resistance and sacrifice within the ranks of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

“The national hero, Tahir Sinani, who has become an inspiration and a symbol of resilience for every KLA fighter, stands at the foundation of our nation’s freedom. He wrote the glorious history of the KLA in blood, and his name remains unforgettable in the national conscience,” Limaj’s statement said.

In concluding his reaction, he stressed that the sacrifice of the martyrs must not be called into question, calling for respect for the figures of the liberation war.

“Glory to Tahir Sinani and all the nation’s martyrs!”

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Sipas Limajt, një përfshirje e tillë është e papranueshme dhe cenon historinë e luftës çlirimtare. Ai ka nënvizuar se “themelet e lirisë” nuk duhet të preken për shkak të interesave apo përplasjeve të politikës së ditës.

Në reagimin e tij, Limaj ka ndalur te figura e dëshmorit Tahir Sinani, për të cilin është shprehur se përfaqëson një nga simbolet më të fuqishme të rezistencës dhe flijimit në radhët e Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës.

“Heroi i kombit, Tahir Sinani, i kthyer në frymëzim dhe simbol të qëndresës për çdo luftëtar të UÇK-së, është në themel të lirisë së kombit tonë. Ai e ka shkruar me gjak historinë e lavdishme të UÇK-së dhe emri i tij mbetet i paharruar në ndërgjegjen kombëtare,” thuhet në qëndrimin e Limajt.

Në përmbyllje të reagimit të tij, ai ka theksuar se sakrifica e dëshmorëve nuk duhet të vihet në pikëpyetje, duke bërë thirrje për respekt ndaj figurave të luftës çlirimtare.

“Lavdi Tahir Sinani dhe të gjithë dëshmorëve të kombit!”

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Kandidati për kryeministër, Ramush Haradinaj, ka premtuar para se ky koalicion do të punojë për Kosovën.

Ai tha se Deçani, është xhevahiri i turizmit malor, është ndër qytetet e rralla që rrethohet me bjeshkë që i kanë terrenet më të përshtatshme për sportet dimërore.

“Do të investojmë dhe do ta shndërrojmë këtë zonë në adresë ballkanike të turizmit. Turizmi dhe bujqësia mund të bëhen shtylla të zhvillimit ekonomik të Komunës, e për realizimin e të cilave do ta ketë edhe dorën e Shtetit. Studentët do të kenë bursa, rinia mbështetje financiare pa kthim nga Shteti për të fillur biznese të vogla, bujqit trefishim të subvencioneve, bizneset partneritet e lehtësira për rritje të biznesit. Rrymën do ta prodhojmë vet dhe nuk do të lejojmë të na e caktojë çmimin mafia energjetike. Energjia nuk do të jetë malli më i shtrenjtë. Do ta ulim çmimin për 20 përqind. Por për tu zhvilluar, së pari duhet të kemi siguri, e kjo arrihet vetëm duke qenë krejt Kosova në NATO”, tha Haradinaj.

Kurse Fatmir Limaj tha se ky qytet ka punuar lirinë e Kosovës dhe ka premtuar se do të punojnë për të mirën e qytetarëve të Kosovës.

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