Process against KLA's four-year KLA, today begins Thaci's closing word of defence

As Thaci's lawyer Luka Misetiq has announced, he will begin his concluding statement by 09 o'clock. This comes on the third day of final presentations in one of the biggest processes under way in The Hague.

The day before, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office has concluded its final word, and then its defender has been presented before the court. The prosecution has stated that over five thousand material trials were administered during the investigation and interviewed more than 130 witnesses.

The chief specialised prosecutor, Kimberly West, has sought detention of 45 years in prison for each of the accused, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, totally meaning 180 years in prison.

During her presentation, the prosecution claimed that Thaci “lied several times to the international”, referring to the evidence of James Rubin and Wesley Clark.

The demand for sentences has prompted reactions by leaders in Kosovo and the region, who have estimated such a move is not based on international standards and have stressed that the Kosovo Liberation Army has waged a fair fight.

The phase of concluding statements constitutes the final stage of this judicial process. The prosecution, defender of the victims, defence teams and defendants will have the opportunity to present their arguments to the court during this and next week for the last time.

Thaci, Veselin, Krasniqi and Selimi face charges filed by the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, which they have dismissed as groundless. The defence has argued that the KLA did not have an organised command structure and that individual responsibility has not been proven.

The trial against them has begun on April 3, 2023, nearly three years after confirming the indictment, while former KLA leaders have continued to be held in custody in The Hague since then. /Periscope