The Hague clears up, Special Prosecution called for 45 years in prison for each accused

The specialised prosecutor at The Hague has sought a 45-year prison sentence for each of the four alleged former heads of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

In the closing address, prosecutor Kimberly West said they are seeking no sentence for the KLA General Staff, but for the accused persons, demanding 45 years in prison.

The specialised Prosecutor's office requires a verdict on all points of indictment and a single decision of 45 years based on individual crime contributions committed by each person, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. These are war crimes and crimes against humanity, and these charges have not lost their value over the passing of”, she said.

The prosecutor's statement initially created confusion in Pristina. Is it 45 years for each of the accused or for the four together?

Specialised Prosecutor's Office spokesman Christopher Bennett explained to Gazette Express that it is for 45 years for each accused, not total.

The “Agents of this case and the applicable law support a long prison sentence for each of the accused. A complete explanation of the actual and relevant legal considerations is presented in the final memorandum of the Prosecution, and I will not repeat all factors here. While my colleagues will soon stress certain evidence in their presentations and respond to certain arguments of defence, we remain in our memorandum that most extensively presents our case. However, it is important that the SPS position be well understood a sentence and a decision is not required against the General Staff or against KLA. Likewise, no convictions are required, and no decision can be pronounced, only on the basis of membership in the General Staff or at KLA”, he said.

“HACI, Kadri V ESELI, Rexhep SELING, and Jakup KRASNIQE. These crimes are war crimes and crimes against mankind and are grave in nature. And the importance of the charges has not diminished over time”, Bennett added.