Krasniqi's defence seeks to accept documents opposing claims that KLA has had detention policy

This request, defense submitted to the court on September 15, 2025. Apart from Krasniqi, in this case co-accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity are Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini and Rex0>, reports the “Justice Trust”, broadcast. Periscope.

Defense requested, according to the prosecution's statement, has objected.

Defence-proposed materials relate to sites referred to in the indictment as Gjilan, Shala, Rahoveci, Prizren, Llapashtica, Budakova, Semetsta and Drenoci.

The “Materials are supporting and supplementing evidence of the prosecution's witnesses and other documents already accepted in this case”, said the parliament handed over by defence.

Documents besides international reports are also from UNMIK and EULEX. According to defence, most of these documents have been provided by the Prosecution of international organisations or taken to the public domain.

The defence says the proposed documents are important to counter claims of indictment related to the alleged existence of a policy against so-called opponents. And also, according to defence, are documents to challenge the accused's knowledge of crimes allegedly committed to the civilian population in Kosovo during the period of the indictment.

The proposed “evidence is contemporary with alleged crimes and is derived from the media, international observers present in Kosovo, or investigative (international) authorities”, the statement said.

In particular, according to defence, these evidence contradicts crimes filed in the indictment, and in particular allegations of a widespread KLA attack against the civilian population. As well as defence, these documents are provative for Krasniqi's lack of effective control over any KLA member, or his knowledge or his intention to commit any local crime.

For documents related to whereabouts according to the indictment in Gjilan, Rahovec and Prizren, according to defence, mainly indicate the KLA's deorganisation and the group's inability to control its members in the period following the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement on June 9, 1999, and chaotic circumstances in Prizren and Rahovec, caused by mass refugee returns.

The situation of the population returning to the aftermath of the conflict reportedly created circumstances in which civilians independently retaliated for the damage and losses they had suffered, engaging in attacks, plundering and damage to civilian objects. The proposed exhibitions document these circumstances, showing that such crimes were committed by individuals and groups operating out of control, knowledge or intention of the accused, said the statement.

According to the defence, documents related to the indictment's whereabouts at Shala show cases when persons captured by the KLA during the war reported being treated directly.

Defence says evidence rejects alleged bans and abuses attributed to U The CK was part of a common policy.

“Dungance of action uniformity shows deorganization inside U The CK as a structure and lack of any common policy as far as these events are concerned, says the statement.

While, for countries like Llapashtica and its surrounding countries, documents according to defence speak of relations between the LDK and the KLA, rejecting the supposed existence of any KLA policy against political opponents, including members of the LDK.

“further, another material presented for the location of the Actakuza in Llapasica and Interconnected Locations shows that information provided by the media was not necessarily originated by the General Staff The KLA, but was provided by individual units on the ground. The latter is important to counter the claim that the accused were involved in the formation and distribution of all information received by the media”, the statement said.

While, for countries like Budakov and Semetti about the disappearance of the victims of Latife and Collolly, the documents provide actual support for the evidence of already accepted witnesses and are important in the context of accepted evidence that the alleged author was a simple soldier who had not acted on the order of any superior.

For the events in Drenoc involving the death of a person named Azer Taryan, the defense confirms the testimony of witnesses who confirm Tarjan's involvement in a blood feud and his murder as a consequence.

“Materials are important to prove the existence of blood feuds in Kosovo's society during the Aktakuza period and to show that crimes have been committed by individuals who have benefited from their connection with the KLA, instead of taking orders for such actions or following any common policy”, the statement said.

On September 14th 2025, a mass protest was held at The Hague in support of former KLA leaders, attended by citizens from all Albanian and numerous exiles

DPSK has indicated that November 14th 2025 is set as the date for the completion of the defence issue in this case, while the final parameters of the process and statements on the impact of alleged crimes on victims participating in the procedure are scheduled to be submitted until December 22nd 2025.

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

While, the defence had applied according to the 130th Rule, which envisions a request to drop any charges or charges altogether in the indictment. The decision on this requirement was made on 16 July 2025. According to the chairman of the panel, Charles Smith III, what he had sought protection was his failure to rely on war crimes claims involving incidents that occurred before May 1998 and after June 20, 1999.

The trial “Trug notes that incidents and events that have occurred at the time opposed by defence are not accusations within the understanding of the 130” rule, the chairman of the court, Charles Smith III, said.

As a result, this motion had been dropped with the reasoning that the court's authority is to bring down material that constitutes accusations involving time causes. While, the same day, the protection of the victims had presented its evidence, calling two expert witnesses to testify simultaneously.

In addition to testifying on July 16, 2025, the testimony of these two witnesses continued on July 17, 2025, ending the testimony of the victims' defense witnesses.

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.