On Monday, Kosovo’s lawmakers unanimously condemned 16 September war crimes verdicts by the European Union-backed Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against four former rebel leaders. All 99 lawmakers present approved a declaration expressing concern over the convictions and urging authorities to defend Kosovo’s legacy from the 1998-99 war for independence from Serbia.
Earlier this month, the court found former President Hashim Thaci and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army commanders guilty of war crimes, sentencing them to between 13 and 25 years in prison. Kosovo has criticised the verdicts as unjust, stating that the Kosovo Liberation Army, led by Thaci before his political career, fought against Serbian oppression.
Many residents and politicians fear the ruling could tarnish Kosovo’s independence struggle. The parliamentary declaration called for a “joint state strategy” to coordinate legal, institutional, and diplomatic actions to “protect and affirm the full historical truth about the just war for Kosovo’s freedom and liberation.” Acting President Albulena Haxhiu read the declaration in parliament.
The conflict resulted in more than 13,000 deaths and ended after NATO bombing forced Serbia to withdraw from Kosovo, then a Serbian province. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, which Serbia does not recognise. Since the verdicts, thousands have rallied in protest, increasing pressure on Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is already facing a prolonged political crisis after failing to elect a president. Kurti faces a 6 October deadline for political parties to agree on a new president, or early elections will be required for the third time in a year.
Some opposition parties have made their support for a new president conditional on passing a law to limit the scope of the Specialist Chamber at The Hague, which tried Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi. Kurti has not yet responded to this demand. His government has pledged support for the four leaders in their appeals process.
Kosovo established the Netherlands-based court in 2015 with EU support. Kosovo has been told it must improve relations with Serbia to join the EU, but EU-mediated dialogue remains stalled as tensions persist.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
