The trial for KLA crimes before the Specialist Chambers in The Hague has reached its closing stage. After the closing arguments of four former KLA leaders were concluded, the families of abducted and missing persons have stated that they expect a conviction, after which new criminal proceedings could be initiated in order to clarify the fate of all Serbs who suffered in Kosovo before and after the arrival of the KFOR and UNMIK missions.
The proceedings, which lasted almost three years, have concluded before the court in The Hague. Former President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi and members of the KLA have been tried on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998 and 1999 conflict. The prosecution has requested the maximum sentence of 45 years’ imprisonment, while the defence maintains that the charges are unfounded.
“The indictment concerns very specific crimes; these are not political acts”
Lawyer Zoran Živanović emphasises that the case relates to specific offences.
“The indictment concerns very specific crimes, so these are not political acts. They are charged with attempting, through the Kosovo Liberation Army which they controlled and commanded, to establish solely their own authority in Kosovo. In other words, not only to free themselves, as they claimed, from the Serbs and the Serbian authorities, but they also persecuted their compatriots, particularly those from the Democratic Party of Kosovo led by Ibrahim Rugova, and even killed some of them, precisely so that they themselves could come to power,” Živanović said.
“Perhaps there will be new information about those we are still searching for”
Veljko Odalović, President of the Commission on Missing Persons, says that the indictment covers only part of the crimes.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. The indictment identifies 102 victims who lost their lives, 400 who were held in camps, and 44 illegal camps are also included in the indictment. Among them are many missing persons, and this is what particularly concerns us, because we hope that, through the evidence presented and a conviction, there may be new information about what happened to those we are still searching for today,” Odalović said.
“They will be convicted”
Many people are still seeking answers about the destiny of their loved ones, and for the families of the missing, whatever the verdict, it carries particular weight. Živanović notes that no sentence can restore lost lives.
“What does someone gain if their entire family has been killed? What do they gain if someone serves 30 or 40 years in prison? Perhaps it provides greater satisfaction in some way than if such a crime were to go completely unpunished,” he said.
He adds that, in his assessment, bearing in mind the evidence presented and analysed by the prosecution in its closing arguments, he expects a conviction.
“In my assessment, given the evidence that was presented and which the prosecution analysed very thoroughly in its closing argument, I believe the verdict will be a conviction,” Živanović stated.
“We should seek solutions through dialogue”
Blic’s interlocutors underline that the verdict will not be political, but that the proceedings concern individual criminal responsibility for war crimes and should not affect the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
“I believe that the international community, bearing in mind that Kurti now has full capacity to present himself in that way, should exert pressure on Pristina not only on this issue, but also on many other current issues that are causing serious concern, primarily for the Serbian community and the Serbian minority in Kosovo and Metohija, to begin talks and simply seek solutions through dialogue, because ultimately that is the purpose and meaning of dialogue,” Odalović said.
The verdict in the war crimes case against Hashim Thaçi and others is expected to be known within three months. Meanwhile, proceedings for witness intimidation have also been initiated, and a new trial is due to begin on 27 February.
(Blic, 22.02.2026)