Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin has issued a strong statement regarding the ongoing trial at The Hague against Hashim Thaçi and other leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA/UÇK). Speaking in an interview with the Atlantic Council, Rubin said that a conviction without concrete evidence would be “a tragedy for Kosovo and a permanent stain on international justice.”
Rubin expressed deep concern that a politically motivated verdict could harm not only Kosovo but also the credibility of international courts for decades to come.
“I pray that The Hague does not issue a guilty verdict against Thaçi and the others. That would be a terrible outcome for Kosovo and would have long-term consequences for international justice,” Rubin said.
He emphasized that such a decision would “deeply damage the legitimacy of the international legal system,” noting that punishing those who fought for freedom without proof would dishonor the sacrifices made by the people of Kosovo.
“It would be a dreadful stain on the international judicial system if they are convicted without any evidence,” Rubin continued. “It would also severely harm the willingness to ever again establish a tribunal like this.”
Rubin, who once served as spokesperson for the U.S. State Department and worked closely with both President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said he now feels freer to speak openly:
“When I was at the State Department, I would have said that’s a hypothetical question and refused to answer. But I’m no longer a spokesperson. Now I can speak about hypotheticals—and I must say, I truly hope this does not happen.”
Rubin’s remarks add to a growing chorus of international voices calling for fairness, transparency, and evidence-based judgment in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, amid increasing criticism that the process has been politically driven and lacking impartiality.
