‘Kosovo Hero’: Reuters Writes About Thaçi and the Verdict Expected in The Hague — ‘Tectonic Event’

The international news agency Reuters has devoted an extensive article to the trial of former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi and other former KLA leaders, whose verdict is expected to be announced on Wednesday in The Hague. Reuters describes the verdict as a moment of great importance for Kosovo and the region.

“Large screens have been set up in various cities in Kosovo showing the countdown to the announcement of the verdict, which is expected to begin at 10:00 in The Hague. On Saturday, thousands of citizens took part in a rally in Pristina, demanding the release of the former KLA leaders,” Reuters writes.

The agency writes that Thaçi’s defense has argued the charges of murder and torture are baseless and that the proceedings constitute an attempt to “rewrite” history. The lawyers have said there is no evidence directly linking Thaçi to the alleged crimes or proving he had control over other KLA commanders.

‘Tectonic event’

“For us, Hashim Thaçi is a hero of Kosovo, a freedom fighter. He should return to Kosovo,” Pristina resident Mentor Plakaj told Reuters. Thaçi was president of Kosovo from 2016 to 2020, having previously served as prime minister from 2008 to 2014.

“The verdict is a tectonic event,” said Agon Maliqi, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center.