Prosecutors close case against former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders

Defense attorneys for former KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) superiors have informed the trial panel that they intend to file motions to dismiss the charges, it was announced at the Special Court, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

"In addition, the Defense teams have announced that they will inform the Trial Panel if they intend to present their cases following the decision on the Rule 130 motions," the court's announcement states.

The defense's announcement comes immediately after the Specialized Prosecutor's Office officially closed its case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

On the 2nd anniversary of the start of the trial, the defense teams told the media that they will request the dismissal of parts of the indictment, while expressing optimism that there will ultimately be a positive outcome.

They considered the prosecution's case weak, and emphasized the excessive length of this process.

The SPO charges former KLA leaders with alleged war crimes. They have pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.

What is known as the grand trial began on April 3, 2023 - almost three years after the indictment was confirmed, since the former KLA leaders have been held in the detention center in The Hague.

In an official announcement on Wednesday, April 16, the SPO said it had called 125 witnesses to testify in person in the courtroom. Many of them testified under protective measures and without their identities being made public.

It took the Hague Prosecution two years from the start of the trial to close its case. After that, a progress conference will be held on April 23 to decide how to proceed.

So far it is known that the victims' advocate will call several witnesses.

At the beginning of the trial, the prosecution said that the defendants were part of a "joint criminal enterprise."

Meanwhile, defense lawyers rejected all charges and argued that the KLA did not have an organized command structure.