The trial in The Hague involving alleged war crimes by leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army is approaching its final stage, following three years of court proceedings and five years of pre-trial detention.
The trial, which began in 2023, focused between April 3 and 5 on the hearing of charges against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi, all of whom pleaded not guilty.
After a lengthy process involving protected prosecution witnesses and evidence presented by the Hague Prosecutor’s Office—some of which reportedly originated from Serbia—the case has sparked strong reactions in Kosovo, including public protests.
The prolonged detention of the accused, without temporary release—even in cases such as attending family funerals—has also drawn criticism.
Defense witnesses, during days of testimony, challenged the prosecution’s claims, presenting accounts that contradicted the allegations.
The prosecution’s request for a total of 180 years in prison for the four defendants also triggered reactions. Former investigator Nevenka Tromp previously noted that in cases where evidence is insufficient, prosecutors may seek unusually harsh sentences to compensate.
Although the trial has formally concluded and is now in the hands of the judges, the prosecution has continued submitting additional materials and evidence.
Presiding judge Charles Smith emphasized on the final day that no further submissions are allowed after the closure of the case, except in matters related to detention review.
As the process nears its end, a first-instance verdict is expected, though it remains unclear whether it will be issued within the initial 90-day timeframe or if the court will require additional time.
