The Special Court in The Hague is expected to announce on Wednesday, September 16, the verdict against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
While the peaceful rally in The Hague has started, the organizers of the “Freedom has a name” initiative have announced that around 10,000 Albanians from Kosovo, Albania and the diaspora are expected to participate in the march.
The journalist of the Albanian Radio Television, Jonida Omeri, reported directly from The Hague, where the participants gathered in support of the former leaders of the KLA, a day before the announcement of the decision.
Citizens who traveled from Kosovo and various European countries to participate in the rally have also arrived in The Hague.
“I come from Klina. I was a soldier with the KLA and we are here to support the former commanders and generals of the KLA. They are our freedom. We expect them to be released and we hope to return with them to Kosovo. They are our liberators. We have fought for our freedom,” he said.
Even Albanians from the diaspora express hope for the release of the former leaders of the KLA.
“I come from Germany and the hopes are high. We hope that they will be released. Our hearts and souls are with the former leaders of the KLA. Our hearts want them to be found innocent and we hope that tomorrow they will all be declared innocent,” he said.
Another participant said he expects tomorrow’s decision to end a long process.
“I am from Malisheva and I believe that tomorrow I will return to Kosovo together with the former leaders, Jakup Krasniq and others. I hope they will be found innocent”, he said.
The judicial process against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi started in 2023 and during the process around 130 witnesses were heard. The final verdict is expected to be announced on September 16, at 10:00 a.m. in The Hague.
After the announcement of the decision, the parties have the right to appeal it, if they claim that there are legal grounds for appeal.
The former leaders are accused of war crimes: illegal arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture and unlawful killing. Meanwhile, the crimes against humanity that they are accused of having committed are: persecution, imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, illegal killing and enforced disappearance of persons.
The crimes are suspected to have been committed from March 1998 to September 1999, in several locations in Kosovo, but also in Kukës, Albania.
