Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) former commander Rexhep Selimi has strongly rejected the charges brought by the Specialized Prosecution at The Hague, arguing that the case is politically motivated and aimed at creating divisions within Kosovo.
During his final statement before the court, Selimi emphasized that the prosecution is attempting to misrepresent the struggle for Kosovo’s independence:
“It is difficult to understand who this indictment is really against. Is it against us for specific actions, or is it against us simply because we fought for Kosovo’s independence? This is for you, the judging panel, to assess,” Selimi said.
He stressed that Kosovo never had two camps—one for independence and one for autonomy under Serbia:
“Honorable judges, in Kosovo there has never been a political party opposed to independence, and consequently, none that supported autonomy under Serbia,” he stated.
Selimi further condemned the prosecution’s narrative that attempts to equate the UÇK with crimes committed by Serbian forces, calling it fundamentally false:
“The prosecution tries to divide us Albanians among ourselves and equate the KLA with Serbian crimes. No one can do either.”
His remarks underline the ongoing tension between the prosecution and Kosovo’s historical narrative, highlighting the broader stakes of the trial: not only individual accountability, but also the legacy and legitimacy of Kosovo’s fight for independence.
