This is when verdicts will be pronounced in Hague against former KLA leaders

Photo montage: Tanjug/AP, kosovo-online.com

The Specialist Chambers for Kosovo located in The Hague scheduled the reading of the verdicts in the case against former leaders of the so-called KLA Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi for September 16, reports RTS.

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Previously, the verdicts were scheduled to be revealed on July 20.

"The trial panel reasoned that the deliberation should be extended in accordance with the Rulebook on Procedure and Evidence. The extension was necessary due to the large volume of evidence presented and the complexity of the case, and in order to enable a fair, comprehensive and valid evaluation of the evidence files," the Specialist Chambers announced.

Former leaders of the so-called KLA ("Kosovo Liberation Army") Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are charged with six counts on the individual criminal responsibility basis. The indictment covers crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The closing arguments ended on February 18, when the prosecution asked the court to sentence the four defendants each to prison sentences of 45 years.

Thaci, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi have been detained in The Hague since their arrest in November 2020, while the trial began in April 2023.

The terrorist so-called KLA committed numerous crimes during 1998 and 1999, including murders and kidnappings, targeting Yugoslav Army and Serbian police members as well Serb and other non-Albanians civilians, but also ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija who refused to join or aid the group.

(Telegraf.rs / RTS)