The Special Prosecutor’s Office, SPO,  at Kosovo Specialist Chambers in the Hague has concluded its presentation of evidence in the trial of four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA,  including former President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi, with 125 witness testimonies in court.

The four defendants, including Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi, face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the murders and torture of hundreds of victims during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo. 

In a press release, the SPO noted that since the trial that began two years ago, 125 witnesses have presented at court, while approximately 3,000 exhibits have been entered into evidence in multiple languages. To date, the SPO has filed a total of 1,430 submissions related to the case.

“The accused individuals face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the murder of over 100 victims, as well as the illegal detention and torture of hundreds of others,” the press release states.

According to the indictment, these crimes were committed against civilians and individuals not engaged in hostilities from at least March 1998 to September 1999. The locations of these crimes span across Kosovo and northern Albania. 

In its press statement, SPO emphasised that Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West praised the courage of the victims and witnesses who have testified throughout the trial over the past two years. 

“The willingness of witnesses to testify has been extremely important, and I recognise their courage in giving evidence in court,” she stated.

She continued, “Crimes like murder and torture must always be confronted. It is essential for Kosovo that the rule of law and the judicial process in this court are respected so that the integrity and fairness of the proceedings are maintained, and the truth can be established.”

In October 2020, an indictment was confirmed against the four former KLA leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

In 2010, former Swiss senator Dick Marty presented a report to the Council of Europe, condemning the alleged crimes of the KLA, including accusations of “trafficking human organs.” These allegations were then investigated by U.S. prosecutor Clint Williamson, who, in 2014, clarified that his team found no substantiated evidence of organ trafficking.

This investigation led to the establishment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in 2015. The Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor are part of Kosovo’s judicial system but operate with international personnel in the Netherlands.