The European Union has called on all actors in Kosovo and the wider region to exercise restraint following the first-instance verdicts issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders.
European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said the EU had taken note of the verdicts against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, stressing that the decisions were delivered through a fair and impartial judicial process based on individual criminal responsibility.
“The convicted persons have the right to appeal in a separate proceeding. The EU calls on all sides, actors in Kosovo and the region, to exercise restraint. The Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office must carry out their mandate without interference. Justice must take its course, which is particularly important for the victims,” Wigand told a press conference in Brussels.
He added that Kosovo’s authorities have a responsibility to ensure the security of all citizens and communities across Kosovo.
Wigand also reiterated the EU’s long-standing support for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, an institution established within Kosovo’s legal framework by a decision of the Kosovo Assembly.
“Their work is important to ensure accountability and justice for victims and their families from all Kosovo communities, contributing to reconciliation,” he said.
He stressed that it is essential for the Specialist Chambers to operate without fear or intimidation and to ensure the protection of victims and witnesses.
European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier also referred to comments by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who said that court decisions must be respected and emphasized that the verdicts are first-instance rulings concerning individual responsibility and can be appealed.
Mercier urged regional actors to pursue reconciliation, saying that divisions can only be overcome through reconciliation and by embracing a common future within the European Union.
