Former prosecutor of the Hague tribunal, Geoffrey Nice, has commented on the request for 45-year prison sentences against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) currently on trial in The Hague, saying that potential convictions could carry significant consequences for the state of Kosovo.
In remarks reported by Politico, Nice said he preferred to remain cautious about the case but acknowledged that any conviction of the accused would require a thorough examination of their roles during the conflict.
“I think it is better not to say anything. Naturally, if these men—any of them—are convicted, then a detailed examination of their role would be required,” he said.
Nice further stressed that a conviction at this stage could represent a serious burden for Kosovo as a state, particularly considering its current phase of political and institutional development.
“If these men are convicted, it will be a burden for the state, and at this stage of development it is not something that can be easily carried on the shoulders of the state,” he added.
The trials of former KLA leaders at the Hague-based court remain among the most closely watched judicial processes related to the Kosovo war, with both political and societal implications for the region.
