Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has announced that the government will take “an important decision” today regarding the state’s involvement in supporting the defence of four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), stressing the need for a carefully planned strategy at the state and national levels.
Speaking at the beginning of the government’s first meeting since the election of Kosovo’s new president, Kurti said the executive would continue supporting Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, who were found guilty by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on 16 September and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 13 to 25 years for war crimes.
“As we have done from the beginning of this process, the government will continue, using the means at its disposal, to support the accused in the appeals proceedings, where we expect this injustice to be corrected,” Kurti said.
He emphasised that defending the former KLA leaders required a well-considered strategy and a thorough assessment of the full judgment before further steps could be taken.
“First, we need an in-depth analysis of the judgment in its full form so that we can move forward,” Kurti said.
“We need to succeed on appeal, and that requires organisation and a state-level and national strategy. Therefore, today we will take an important decision accordingly,” he added.
Kurti Congratulates Citizens on Completion of Institutional Formation
During the meeting, Kurti also congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on the full constitution of the country’s institutions following the election of President Justina Shiroka-Pula.
He reiterated his criticism of the prolonged political deadlock that had prevented the institutions from being fully established in accordance with the mandate given by voters.
“Since January 2025, we have practically spent the entire time in continuous election campaigns because the mandate we received from the citizens was not put into effect through the full constitution of the institutions. First, there was a blockade of the Assembly, then the government, and finally the presidency. But at last, this deadlock has been resolved,” Kurti said.
He recalled that, following numerous efforts since the certification of the election results, the Assembly of Kosovo, in its 11th legislature, elected academician Justina Shiroka-Pula as the seventh president of the Republic of Kosovo last week.
“The election of the president also marks the completion of the full constitution of the institutions, following the constitution of the Assembly and the formation of the new government after the elections of 7 June this year. Congratulations to all citizens of the Republic!” Kurti said.
The government’s meeting comes after the completion of the institutional formation process, while the executive is preparing to decide on further support for the four former KLA leaders as their legal battle continues through the appeals process in The Hague.
