Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has reacted to the Special Prosecution’s request for prison sentences of up to 45 years for former President Hashim Thaçi and former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
In her statement, Osmani stressed that Kosovo’s independence is the result of the people’s will and a century of sacrifice, emphasizing that the KLA war was just and clean, while genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes were committed by Serbia against the people of Kosovo.
The prosecution has reportedly requested a combined total of 180 years in prison for Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi.
In her full reaction, Osmani stated that Kosovo’s independence came as a result of the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs and innocent civilians, who, she said, fought heroically through the KLA for freedom.
She further argued that Serbia aimed to exterminate the Albanian population during the last war in Kosovo, citing mass killings, massacres of civilians, widespread sexual violence, destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes, forced displacement of over 80% of Kosovo’s population, ethnic cleansing, enforced disappearances, and other severe crimes.
Osmani warned that any attempt to equate the KLA’s liberation war with crimes committed by what she described as the “genocidal Serbian aggressor” undermines trust in justice and severely damages long-term peace.
She concluded by stating that Kosovo and its citizens seek justice, adding that the truth about the KLA’s war cannot be changed by attempts to rewrite history or discredit Kosovo’s struggle for freedom.
