Major international media outlets are paying attention to the announcement of the verdict against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in The Hague.
Associated Press and Reuters are among the media outlets reporting on the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi, as well as the atmosphere created in Kosovo awaiting the verdict, KosovaPress reports.
The Associated Press writes that the four former KLA leaders are widely considered national heroes in Kosovo, while also mentioning the public support they received before the verdict was announced.
AP writes how portraits of Thaçi, Veseli, Selim and Krasniqi have been placed in many parts of Pristina, alongside a large digital clock that has counted down the time until the announcement of the decision.
This international agency also recalls the rally held on Saturday in Pristina, where thousands of citizens gathered in support of the four defendants.
Reuters is also paying close attention to the process, reporting that the verdict will be closely followed in Kosovo and Serbia, while recalling that the legacy of the 1998 and 1999 wars continues to affect relations between the two countries.
Reuters writes that Thaçi continues to be seen as an important figure by many Kosovo Albanians, while the process in the Specialist Chambers has aroused great opposition in Kosovo.
The agency also reports that prosecutors have requested sentences of up to 45 years in prison for Thaçi and his three co-defendants, while all four have denied the charges. The defense has requested their release.
Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are charged with alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, including persecution, murder and torture. They have pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.
The trial against them began in April 2023, while the four have been in custody in The Hague since November 2020.
The first instance verdict is being announced this Wednesday by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague and is being followed with great attention in Kosovo and abroad. /Kosovapress/
