Flags, emblems of the Kosovo Liberation Army, photographs of four former KLA superiors, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, have been placed in cities throughout Kosovo, demanding their release, as well as clocks showing how much time is left until the verdict is announced against them. They are accused by the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The decision, announced on the morning of September 16, is considered one of the most important of the Special Court of Kosovo in The Hague, which was established in 2015.
1.”Liberators, bring them home,” reads a billboard located in the center of Pristina, as there are less than 24 hours left until the verdict is announced against the former superiors of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Special Court of Kosovo in The Hague.
2. In anticipation of the decision, in cities all over Kosovo, as well as in Pristina (reflected in this photo), screens have been placed showing the remaining time until the verdict is announced. The judgment will be announced on the morning of September 16.3. Albanian national flags and Kosovo flags placed on a street in Ferizaj awaiting the decision for the four KLA.4. Hats with inscriptions “Freedom has a name”, “KLA” and the Albanian national flag are seen in Pristina. The KLA foursome have been in custody in The Hague since November 2020, and all have pleaded guilty to the ten counts of the indictment.5. “Heroes of war and peace” is the inscription accompanied by the photographs of the former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi and the former speaker of parliament, Kadri Veseli. This billboard is one of many that have been placed in different parts of Pristina.6. The Office of the Specialized Prosecutor in The Hague has requested that Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi be sentenced to 45 years in prison each. The defense, meanwhile, has requested that they be declared innocent in all points of the indictment.7. Prishtina’s main square decorated with KLA flags. The city authorities have warned that a large screen will be placed in the center of Pristina where citizens will be able to follow the announcement of the decision.8. The KLA emblem can be seen on a wall in Ferizaj.9. Cars decorated with KLA flags and portraits of its former superiors, Hashim Thaçi and Kadri Veseli in Pristina.10. Citizens walking through the main square of Pristina, where KLA flags are placed. The KLA foursome’s defense during the trial argued that it was a guerilla, volunteer army and had no vertical hierarchy.11. In the indictment brought against the former superiors of the KLA, the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor claims that the KLA was a structured organization, with a chain of command up to Hashim Thaçi.12. At the top of the building of Radio Kosovo is the inscription “Freedom has a name”, accompanied by the KLA emblem.13. During the war in Kosovo, Thaçi held the role of the political leader of the KLA, Veseli was the leader of the intelligence service, Krasniqi the spokesman, while Selimi was a member of the General Staff.14. In the indictment, Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi are described as part of a “joint criminal enterprise”, which aimed to gain and exercise control through intimidation, mistreatment and removal of opponents. According to the indictment, their victims included Serbs, Roma and Albanians who did not support the KLA.15. During the trial in The Hague, senior international figures sat on the witness stand in Thaçi’s defense, including retired US general Wesley Clark, who led NATO’s air campaign against Serbian military targets, and former US State Department spokesman James Rubin.16. Just four days before the announcement of the judgment, on September 12, in Pristina, under the organization of the civic platform “Liberty has a name”, the Freedom March was held. Thousands of citizens participated in it and the speakers and organizers demanded that the four former KLA superiors be declared innocent and return to Kosovo.
