Today, the closing arguments of the defense of former President Hashim Thaçi begin at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, as part of the final phase of the trial against former KLA leaders.
As announced by Thaçi's lawyer, Lluka Mishetić, he will begin his closing statement at 09:00. This comes on the third day of final presentations in one of the largest trials taking place in The Hague.
The day before, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office concluded its closing arguments, while the victims' defense attorney also appeared before the trial panel. The prosecution stated that during the investigation it administered over five thousand pieces of material evidence and interviewed more than 130 witnesses.
The Chief Specialized Prosecutor, Kimberly West, has requested a sentence of 45 years in prison for each of the defendants - Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which in total means 180 years in prison.
During its presentation, the prosecution claimed that Thaçi "lied to the internationals several times", referring, according to it, to the testimonies of James Rubin and Wesley Clark.
The request for sentences has prompted reactions from leaders in Kosovo and the region, who have assessed that such a measure is not based on international standards and have emphasized that the Kosovo Liberation Army has waged a just war.
The closing arguments phase constitutes the final stage of this trial. The prosecution, the victims' advocate, the defense teams and the accused will have the opportunity to present their arguments to the jury for the last time this week and next week.
Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi face charges brought by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, which they have dismissed as unfounded. The defense has argued that the KLA did not have an organized command structure and that individual responsibility has not been proven.
Their trial began on April 3, 2023, almost three years after the indictment was confirmed, while the former KLA leaders have continued to be held in custody in The Hague since then. /Telegraph/
