Lawyers representing former President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi have requested that he be declared not guilty of war crimes charges, Reuters reported Wednesday.
Thaçi, along with three other former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), is accused of persecution, murder, torture, and enforced disappearances during and immediately after the 1998-1999 uprising, which eventually led to Kosovo’s independence from Serbia.
Defense Arguments:
- Thaçi’s lawyer, Luka Mishetiq, told judges at the Specialized Chambers for War Crimes in The Hague that prosecutors’ claims of a violent campaign led by Thaçi to seize political control were unfounded attempts to “rewrite” Kosovo’s history.
- Mishetiq stated: “There is sufficient doubt to allow you to acquit him on all counts.”
- The defense emphasized that no direct evidence links Thaçi personally to the alleged crimes, and there is no proof he controlled other KLA commanders.
- “There are no orders from Thaçi to the perpetrators, nor reports from perpetrators to Thaçi. No credible evidence exists that he was personally involved in war crimes,” added Mishetiq.
Background:
- Thaçi, 57, served as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and President of Kosovo from 2008 to 2020. Both he and his co-accused deny all charges.
- Prosecutors, concluding a trial lasting nearly three years, had requested 45-year prison sentences for Thaçi and the other defendants. They allege that over 100 political opponents and individuals perceived as collaborators with Serbian forces were killed, and hundreds more were abused in approximately 50 detention camps managed by the KLA.
Specialized Chambers:
- The Kosovo Specialized Chambers, composed of international judges and lawyers, were established in 2015 to handle war crimes under Kosovo law.
- The court is located outside Kosovo due to concerns over witness intimidation.
- A verdict is expected within three months.
This case continues to draw international attention as Kosovo navigates post-conflict accountability and justice for war-era crimes.
