Former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, told the court in The Hague that his conscience is clear and transparent. He stated that he knows who he is, what he has done and what he has not done, and that his actions have been humane and lawful.

During his 20-minute speech at the Specialist Chambers, Veseli said that the truth may be delayed, but it will never be denied.

“The creation and functioning of this court to date is the result of a broad debate in my country, but above all, what must prevail is justice and impartiality in judging the truth and objective reality in which we acted. I approach this process with conviction and faith that the truth has nothing to fear from justice, and that justice may be delayed, but it is never denied. I have acted with this conviction, I have lived with this conviction, and today I stand before you with this conviction. And I can certainly say that I know who I am, I know what I have done and what I have not done, my actions have been humane and lawful. My conscience is clear, my history is transparent—now everyone can see this even in this judicial process,” he said.

Expressing faith in truth and justice, Veseli said he strongly believes that the decision of the court will be guided by truth, impartiality, justice, and the law.

Veseli, from the defendant’s bench in The Hague, also extended his congratulations to the people of Kosovo on the 18th anniversary of independence, which was celebrated yesterday.

“My faith in truth and justice remains unwavering, and I want to strongly believe that in your decision only truth, impartiality, justice, and law will prevail. Since yesterday was the independence day of my country, I have only one greeting at the end for all citizens of the country: congratulations on independence, enjoy your freedom, citizens of the Republic of Kosovo,” he said.

In his speech to the judges, Veseli said the court must under all circumstances protect justice and truth, emphasizing that freedom cannot be achieved through injustice.

“I address you to stress a single point, but one of extraordinary importance: the court must under all circumstances protect justice, truth, and impartiality. This is not merely a legal right; it is a major contribution and the legacy that will remain from this court. This is also why I joined the thousands of women and men who lined up in the ranks of the KLA for Kosovo’s freedom, and why I have served my country all my life so that every citizen can enjoy justice and the world can know the truth about our nation. Even in the darkest moments, I never lost faith that justice, truth, and freedom would triumph… I have never believed that violence, hatred, or revenge could be honest guides; they destroy the spirit of a people, not only the victim. Hatred is merely another form of slavery; freedom cannot be achieved through injustice. Peace cannot be built on crime. A just cause cannot be defended by unjust means,” he said.

Veseli said there is no evidence to show that he committed any crime or unlawful act.

“My family and I have lived under continuous persecution by the Serbian state. This is not an abstract description; it is a concrete reality that has affected every member of my family and my entire people… I know what it means to be unprotected, I know what it means to live under constant threat; this is an experience I would not wish on anyone. But it also taught me a fundamental truth: in the face of injustice, one must maintain moral integrity and core human values. Some may ask whether these are just words or reflected in my life and actions, and my answer today is clear: not only in my words but above all in the evidence presented before this court after decades of investigations, documents, and countless testimonies, there is no evidence to show that I committed any crime. No unlawful act has been proven on my part; it is not a matter of interpretation, it is a matter of fact,” he said.

Before the court, Veseli said those who decide for peace often face consequences.

“My goal was clear: to contribute to the freedom and justice of my people, but not to do injustice to anyone. In recent months in this courtroom, I have seen how easily some underestimate the difficulty of stopping a conflict and achieving peace, but history teaches us that those who decide for peace often face consequences. Seeing today’s reality, when the world has such a great need for peace, it is clear that peace is not always easy to achieve, and preserving it is often even more difficult,” he said.

Kadri Veseli emphasized that he never desired conflict, only a peaceful life with dignity in Kosovo. He added that his departure in the early 1990s was forced, with the aim of securing a better future through education.

“As for my involvement in the war, it did not arise from a desire for conflict. As a young man, I wanted a simple life in my country with dignity, in peace with my family… In the early 1990s I left Kosovo; it was a forced departure and an opportunity for a more normal life and a future built on knowledge and progress. While I lived in a free country, my homeland was experiencing deep suffering under slavery. The situation in Kosovo turned into denial and exclusion of the majority… The tragedy in Prekaz on March 5, 6, and 7, 1998 was not an isolated act but a continuation of massacres carried out by Serbian forces. Such acts of terror exceeded the normal fear of ordinary people. I could not remain indifferent. While my people faced destruction, life for me only had meaning if my people could live in freedom. That is why I returned to Kosovo, not as a trained soldier, but as an individual still studying, not with hatred but with conviction; I returned because I felt a moral duty to my country,” he said.

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

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

The defense teams of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi have requested that they be declared not guilty on all counts of the indictment.

They have stated before the court that there is no evidence supporting the claims of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office regarding war crimes.

Specialist Chief 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 are facing charges brought by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which they have deemed unfounded. The defense has also rejected these 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. The former KLA leaders have been held at the detention center in The Hague since November 2020.