The defense team of former Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli is set to continue presenting its final statement today in one of the most significant war crimes trials at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
During yesterday’s session, Veseli’s lawyer, Rodney Dixon, told the trial panel that “there is not a single piece of evidence proving that Veseli committed war crimes.” Dixon further argued that Veseli was not present in Kosovo for extended periods during the timeframe covered by the indictment.
The defense emphasized that Veseli’s name appears more than 260 times in the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) final brief, but according to Dixon, none of those references provide substantiated evidence linking Veseli to the alleged crimes.
The final arguments of Veseli’s defense follow the conclusion of closing statements by the legal team of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi. Thaçi’s lawyer, Luka Mišetić, urged the court to release his client, stating that it is time for Thaçi to return to his family.
Mišetić also described the SPO’s request for 45-year prison sentences for the four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders as an “unserious submission.”
Strong criticism toward the prosecution was also voiced by defense attorney Pierre-Richard Prosper, particularly regarding the treatment of international defense witnesses. Prosper stated that the prosecution’s claim that seven defense witnesses lacked deep knowledge or understanding of the KLA’s structure demonstrated arrogance, disrespect, and ignorance.
The closing arguments phase, which marks the final opportunity for both parties to present their legal positions, began on Monday with the prosecution’s submissions.
Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi are facing charges filed by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. All four have rejected the allegations, with their defense teams arguing that the KLA did not operate under a structured or centralized command hierarchy.
The trial officially began on April 3, 2023, nearly three years after the indictment was confirmed. The four former KLA leaders have remained in detention in The Hague since their arrests.
