NEW YORK – Human rights organization: Specialist verdict a significant moment for victims

Hugh Williamson, Director for Europe and Central Asia at the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), has called the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) a significant moment for victims who have waited decades for justice.

Williamson reacted through a post on Human Rights Watch’s official Instagram, after the announcement of the verdict against Kosovo’s former president, Hashim Thaçi, and three other former senior KLA leaders, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

“Today’s decision is a significant moment for victims who have waited decades for justice. The conviction of Kosovo’s former president, Hashim Thaçi, together with three other former senior KLA leaders, for war crimes, shows that high office, position or affiliation during wartime should shield no one from accountability for serious crimes,” Williamson wrote.

He added that justice is owed to all victims, regardless of their ethnicity or of those who committed the crimes against them.

“Justice is owed to all victims, regardless of their ethnicity or who committed the crimes against them,” Williamson stressed.

His reaction came after the Specialist Chambers announced the verdict against the four former KLA leaders on September 16.

The court sentenced Thaçi and Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, Veseli to 18 years and Selimi to 13 years for war crimes.

According to the verdict, all four were found criminally responsible for crimes including arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder.

Meanwhile, the trial panel acquitted them of the charges of crimes against humanity, as the Prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population.

The verdict is a first-instance decision and can be appealed.