Several documents allegedly from the Dukagjin area in the case of former KLA leaders are accepted on trial

In the court case in which Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are accused of war crimes, a decision has been made to accept some documents allegedly from the Dukagjin Operative Zone on material evidence.

The decision was made on May 13th 2025 by the chairman of the court, Charles Smith III, and among the accepted documents, allegedly has files on the Special Unit of this Zone, including personal names and details for members, its commanders, tasks and exchange schedules, weapons and motions available, reports the “Betrim for Justice “.

According to the panel, these documents allegedly belong to this structure are written by hand, bear dates and some of them even titles like “U n D K, Special Unit”

Then documents reportedly dealing with Dukagjin Operative Zone Staff were proposed as “U n D K, Command Operational Zone of Dukagjin” According to the ruling, the prosecution has said those documents point to events on the ground, including the activity of opponents, the movement of civilians and its activity to members of the KLA.

These documents are also said to have dates and contain sufficient indications of authenticity. One of the documents, it is said, contains detailed lists of weapons, including serial numbers and names of people assigned to the weapon.

According to the decision, such documents as manuscripts also contain titles such as “U n CK arming”.

As a result, for a group of documents, including the above documents, the panel has accepted them on material evidence while rejecting proposed documents 114, 115, 118, and 120-120A.

However, the evidence proposed from 121 to 127 and 129 to 192 speak of local headquarters and brigades during the spring and summer period in 1998.

For documents 128 and 139, the ZPS was instructed to provide revised translations because they are not.

Among the documents, under the verdict, Mr. The SP has said that some also testify to the intelligence and military police units that were established within local headquarters under the direction of the Dukagjin Operative Zone. In them, there has reportedly been information about continuing clashes between the KLA and Serb forces in the area.

On the other hand, one of the proposed evidence was a processr of a meeting that took place in the village of Babacojq, where the Chief of Staff of the area reportedly participated. At this meeting, the chief of Staff was reportedly informed of the situation in the village and had been discussing issues of general mobilization, desertifications and food supplies.

Among the documents, however, were demands for food supplies for soldiers, one of which was for those in the village of Sverca.

Regarding these documents, the panel has said they are relevant to the structure and organisation of the KLA in this area, as well as to co-operation between command and subordinate commands.

“As far as the proposed test 153 is concerned, the court notes that it contains a request to Commander Ramush Haradinaj for weapons security, which shows a date and launching site, mentions the persons making requests and shows that they are members of the KLA”, the decision said.

As a result, the panel has accepted evidence from 121 to 127 and 129 to 166, as well as 168 to 182 and 184 to 192. While those 144, 167 and 183 were rejected.

While, for trials 193 to 201, 203 to 208, 219 to 215 and 217 to 240, the SPS reportedly claims to be connected to the structure and organisation of the KLA, as well as to the Dukagjin Operative Zone in the period between mid-September 1998 and 1999.

Documents 204 to 208, the prosecution had said they have the stamp of the KLA General Staff Directorate, and were seized from Jakup Krasniqi's residence. For this, the panel has said they have indications of their origin and source.

While, the proposed documents 214 and 215, according to the Prosecutor, are seized from Rexhep Selim's residence and that there are reports issued by the intelligence sector, which the panel has said have authenticity and meet the threshold, facie”.

The document 220, reportedly holds a “Military Police- KLA” and contains details for deserters, while document 225 is seized from Jakup Krasniqi's residence. Both of these documents according to the panel have clear authenticity indicators.

For the reasons mentioned above, the court decides as follows: E Partly apply; (b) PRAIN as evidence in the procedure the following articles, or pieces identified by them, and any related translation: Proposed exhibits 1-14, 16-113, 116, 117, 119, 121-27, 129-166, 168-182, 184-195, 197-201, 203-208, 210-215, 217, 218, 220-237, 241-258 and 26053; (c) REFUZE acceptance as evidence of articles or parts identified by the following: Proposed exhibits 114-15, 118, 120-120A, 144 (q. 5871), 167, 183, 196, 200. U.S.A., U.S.A. & U.S.A. -U009-2060, 219, 238-240, 243 (if. U009-1732, U009-1737 and U009-1739-U0-1740), 245 (fq. U009-1928, U009-1934 -U09-1935, U009-1937-U009-1939 and U09-1941-U09-1942, and 247 (f. U0-1828, U009-1833 -U0-1834, U009-1840-U0-1841, U0-1848 -U0091854 and U009-1856)”, the decision says.

The decision obliged the prosecution to offer a revised translation of some documents that have been offered to be accepted in material evidence.

Meanwhile, on April 15th 2025, the prosecution has announced that it has completed presenting evidence in the case.

The Specialised Prosecutor's Office, on September 30th 2022, has handed over the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten points on charges, where the latter are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On April 29th 2022, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office had handed over a amended indictment to Hashim Thaci, Kadri Wessel, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi, where four indictees have committed war crimes even in Gjilan, Budakov and Semtish.

On November 9th 2020, in their first appearances, Hashim Thaci's Jakup Krasniqi has been declared innocent of the charges placed on them. Wessel has also been declared in his presentation on November 10th, as has Rexhep Selimi on November 11th.

The incident against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi is confirmed on October 26, 2020./Periscopi/