Dineke de Groot, president of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, has said that the verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders should be addressed through the legal mechanisms available within the justice system.
Speaking to KosovaPress, De Groot said she was aware of the verdict and the impact it had caused in Kosovo. However, she stressed that it was not her role to comment on the substance of the judicial decision.
“I learned about it, and I know how it is affecting Kosovo. I believe that all of you, together, will be able to reflect in a way that serves the rule of law. There are many opportunities within the system to reflect on this decision, and it is important that this is done,” De Groot said.
She emphasised the importance of using available legal remedies when a judicial decision is considered unjust, arguing that objections to court rulings should be raised and addressed within the framework of the justice system.
“It is not for me to comment on the judgment, but it is important to stress that whenever someone believes a decision is not fair, it is important to say so in your country and make use of the opportunities provided by the legal system,” she said.
Sentences handed down to former KLA leaders
On September 16, 2026, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague found four former KLA leaders guilty of war crimes.
Under the first-instance judgment, former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and former Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. Former Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli received an 18-year sentence, while Rexhep Selimi was sentenced to 13 years.
The trial panel found the four men guilty of offences including unlawful or arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and unlawful killing.
However, all four were acquitted of crimes against humanity after the panel concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the existence of a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population.
The verdict is not final and remains subject to appeal proceedings.
The former KLA leaders denied the charges during the trial, while their defence teams challenged the findings of the trial panel.
De Groot’s remarks underscore the role of legal remedies in challenging judicial decisions, while stopping short of expressing any view on the merits of the verdict itself.
