The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ardian Gjini, has described the Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi as shocking and deeply disappointing.
Thaçi and Krasniqi were sentenced to 25 years in prison, Veseli to 18 years and Selimi to 13 years.
Reacting to the judgment, Gjini said the verdict could not alter what he described as the historical truth of Kosovo or the nature of the KLA’s war against the Serbian regime.
“The KLA fought a just war of liberation against the criminal regime of Serbia,” Gjini said, adding that Kosovo’s freedom and sovereignty were achieved through the efforts of KLA fighters and the support of the country’s international allies.
He said that, following the verdict, attention should remain on the families of the convicted men, their fellow fighters and the people of Kosovo.
Gjini also called on citizens to remain calm and protect Kosovo, arguing that any unrest or destruction would only serve those he described as the country’s enemies.
He further called for greater efforts to be made through the appeals process to secure the release of the four former KLA leaders.
“This verdict cannot change the historical truth,” Gjini said. “Kosovo must do much more so that the four KLA leaders are declared free at the second level of proceedings.”
