Kosovo lawyer Ardian Bajraktari has warned that the conviction of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi could be used by Serbia and other countries opposed to Kosovo to challenge not only the legacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), but also NATO’s 1999 intervention.
Speaking after Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the first-instance judgment by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Bajraktari said the ruling could have broader political consequences for Kosovo.
“Citizens have a right [to be concerned] because the key figure of the KLA is in the dock and today received a first-instance sentence of 25 years,” Bajraktari said.
He argued that the conviction could be presented as evidence by Serbia and others seeking to challenge the political and historical legitimacy of the KLA’s wartime campaign.
“It is precisely the criminalization of him, his objectives and the objectives of the KLA that will most likely be used by Serbia, and not only Serbia, in the coming days to attack not only the war, but also NATO’s intervention,” Bajraktari said.
He added that the judgment could potentially be cited in arguments that Western governments supported an organization that allegedly pursued criminal objectives.
“This could be used as a reference to argue that you cooperated with and supported an organization that had criminal objectives,” he said.
Bajraktari’s comments come amid intense political and public reactions in Kosovo following the Specialist Chambers’ first-instance judgment against Thaçi and other former KLA leaders.
The Specialist Chambers were established under Kosovo law to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes related to the 1998–1999 Kosovo war. The first-instance judgment remains subject to appeal.
