Rexhep Selimi’s wife, Shqipe Selimi, before entering the hearing taking place today in The Hague, stated that the soldiers of the Kosovo Liberation Army stand proudly because they fought a liberation war. She expressed confidence that the final verdict will result in the release of the former KLA leaders, who have been held in detention in The Hague since November 2020.

Shqipe Selimi, who herself was a fighter during the war, described the Specialist Chambers as unjust since its establishment.

“This court has been unjust from the very beginning, unjust in its establishment, and it unjustly tries Kosovo and our war. We, as soldiers, stand proud because we fought a liberation war. I am very confident of this, and the judges will see this truth,” Selimi said.

Regarding the request by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office for a 45-year prison sentence for each of the KLA leaders, Selimi said that no better outcome was expected from this court. However, the general’s wife expressed hope for the release of the former KLA leaders.

“No better outcome is expected from this court than what they claim should be a sentence. But I do not believe the court will impose that length of imprisonment because I expect they will be released,” she emphasized.

Kosovo Assembly deputy Shqipe Selimi, speaking from The Hague, said that the KLA’s war was just.

“This is a very important process, not only for the four KLA leaders but for all of Kosovo. It is known that our liberation war was just, a war in the right of the people, and for this reason, we are all here today to support the four leaders of the KLA. We hope that this verdict—whether today or in the future by the judges—will be in accordance with their rights, with our rights,” Selimi declared.

Today, at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, the trial panel is expected to hear closing statements from Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi, each with 20 minutes.

Prior to this, the defense of each of the four KLA leaders will also be heard.

On February 9, the presentation of closing statements in the case against the former KLA leaders began at the Specialist Chambers.

This marks the final phase of the largest judicial process at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

The defense teams of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi have requested that all four be acquitted of all charges.

They stated before the trial panel that there is no evidence supporting the SPO’s allegations of war crimes.

Special Prosecutor Kimberly West has requested a 45-year prison sentence for each of the former KLA leaders.

Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi face charges brought by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which they have deemed unfounded. The defense also rejected the charges, arguing that the KLA did not have an organized command structure.

The trial against them began on April 3, 2023—almost three years after the indictment was confirmed—and since then, the former KLA leaders have been held at the detention center in The Hague.