Lawyer Gregory Kehoe at The Hague: Thaci condemned the killings and called for ending violence

In The Hague's Specialised Chambers, where the trial of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders (UÇK) is under way, statements and speeches by one of the former KLA elites, Hashim Thaci, calling to condemn the killings and eliminate violence in Kosovo, have been accepted.

These videos were shown by Sandra Mitchell, former surveillance of the O mission. The SEU in Kosovo is testifying in the trial against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, who are being charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Thaci's defence lawyer, Gregory Kehoe, presented videos containing statements by Hashim Thaci, putting them at the focus of the trial. In these videos, Thaci condemned the crimes and murders that were committed in Kosovo, including the killing of 14 Serbs on 14 July 1999.

Other statements were also presented during the trial, where Thaci condemns the killings in Recak.

The lawyer went on, demanding from the court the presentation of other statements by Hashim Thaci from the period of the Kosovo Interim Government.

“We have statements to eliminate violence and to have reconciliation with all ethnic sides. President Thaci speaks of people hurting defenseless civilians since June and October” - Kehoe said among other things.

According to the lawyer, Thaci had called for a multiethnic state of Kosovo.

Videos transmitted to the lawyer's request were accepted as evidence on the court's behalf.

Similarly, the court has acknowledged the 1224 Security Council Resolution (OKB) as material evidence.

Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The initial act against the four indictees was confirmed on October 26, 2020, and has undergone several changes in the years that have followed. The Act currently in effect was handed over on February 27, 2023.

Each of the accused has been charged on the basis of individual criminal responsibility on six counts of crimes against humanity: persecution, imprisonment, other inhuman acts, torture, unlawful murder, and forced disappearance of persons.

According to the indictment, the crimes presented were committed at least from March 1998 to September 1999 at some locations in Kosovo, as well as in Kukes and Cahan of Albania.

The trial began on April 3rd 2023 with the opening statements of the Specialised Prosecutor and the representative of the victims, followed by defence teams on April 4th and April 5th 2023.

In this case there are 143 participating victims. Meanwhile, the prosecution has proposed more than 300 witnesses in the case.

The case is being led by Judge Charls Smith III, Christoph Barthe, Guénawl Mettraux and Fergal Gaynor. /Callo. com/