Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers announcing verdict against Hashim Thaci and other KLA leaders

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague are today sentencing former leaders of the so-called KLA ("Kosovo Liberation Army") - Hashim Thaci, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli - who stood trial accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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The accused, members of their families, Pristina provisional institution's Minister of Foreign Affairs Glauk Konjufca, Minister of Family Affairs Andin Hoti, the president of the association of former members of the so-called KLA Hisni Gucati, and members of the Democratic Party of Kosovo are all in the courtroom.

The reading of the verdicts will, as announced, last for two hours, that is, until noon.

The event is covered by a large number of media crews.

A large number of Dutch police officers are in front of the building of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Albanians have also been gathering in front the court building since last night, carrying flags and emblems of the so-called The KLA, in a bid to support the four former KLA leaders.

The police ordered them to retreat to the area designated for gatherings.

In its closing arguments, the prosecution asked for 45 years for Thaci, Krasniqi, Selimi, and Veseli each.

The indictment charges them with individual criminal responsibility in six counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes.

According to the indictment, the victims were persons who did not support the so-called KLA, namely Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, Albanians that the so-called KLA believed cooperated with Serbian authorities, Albanians who supported the Democratic League of Kosovo or were associated with that party and other parties which the so-called KLA believed were its opponents, Albanians who did not join the so-called KLA or support it, as well as those who socialized with Serbs.

The defense teams for the accused claimed during the trial that the prosecution did not prove the allegations from the indictment and requested acquittal.

The accused leaders of the so-called KLA have been detained in The Hague since their arrest in November 2020.

During 1998 and 1999, the so-called KLA committed numerous crimes, murders and kidnappings, targeting members of the army and police of then Yugoslavia, Serb civilians and other non-Albanians, as well as Albanians who did not accept to be its members or helpers.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)