Hashim Thaçi urges citizens to remain calm after Hague verdict
Through his lawyer, Thaçi thanked supporters and called on citizens to stay calm after the Specialist Chambers sentenced him and three former KLA commanders.
Hashim Thaçi used his first public statement since the verdict to thank supporters and call on Kosovo citizens to remain calm, his lawyer said in a post on X.
In the message relayed by lawyer Luka Mišetić, Thaçi described the court decision as unjust and expressed gratitude for the support he and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders received from the people of Kosovo and the international community.
Sentences handed down by the Specialist Chambers
The Specialist Chambers in The Hague sentenced Thaçi to 25 years in prison. Jakup Krasniqi received the same 25‑year sentence, Kadri Veseli was sentenced to 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years.
Mišetić said the defence will appeal, arguing that significant legal and factual errors undermined the fairness of the proceedings. He wrote that the defence had repeatedly raised concerns during the trial about the conduct of the court and what it described as an appearance of bias.
In his post on X the lawyer quoted Thaçi: "Hashim Thaçi wants to express his sincere gratitude for the great support that he, as well as Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, received from the people of Kosovo and from the international community, and calls on the citizens of Kosovo to remain calm as a response to the injustice."
Mišetić added: "The defence believes that interventions by the court went beyond the usual framework for establishing the truth, thereby undermining the appearance of impartiality required by international judicial standards. This lack of impartiality is now reflected in the judgment of the judicial panel."
Authorities and observers reported unrest in The Hague and in parts of Kosovo following the verdict.
Photo: Arhiva
