Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti raised the first-instance verdict by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders during a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting what he described as three key points in the judgment.
Kurti said the judgment should be examined internationally in light of several findings by the court.
“First, the allegations concerning the so-called ‘Yellow House’ and organ trafficking are not part of the indictment. Second, the charges of crimes against humanity and widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population were dismissed,” Kurti said.
“Third, the Specialist Chambers clearly emphasized that the KLA is not on trial and that their decision in no way seeks to undermine the justice or legitimacy of the liberation war,” he added.
At the same time, Kurti acknowledged that the judgment contains other conclusions and resulted in what he described as severe sentences.
“We also have other conclusions and heavy sentences. We believe they contain factual, historical and legal errors, and we expect these to be corrected on appeal,” Kurti said.
He stressed that justice must be impartial and must also be perceived as impartial.
Kurti also referred to victims of wartime sexual violence in Kosovo, saying that around 20,000 victims have been recorded while many perpetrators have not been brought to justice.
“Kosovo seeks justice for every victim, for every crime and for every perpetrator,” he said.
“We cannot allow the equalization of guilt and responsibility because someone wants to create alternative narratives,” Kurti added.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted four former KLA senior figures at first instance in a judgment that has prompted strong reactions in Kosovo. The verdict remains subject to appeal.
