Spiropali reacts to the request of the Hague Prosecutor's Office: International justice must be impartial

2026-02-09 17:53:00, Aktualitet CNA

Spiropali reacts to the request of the Hague Prosecutor's Office:

Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali has reacted to the news that the Hague Prosecution has requested 180 years in prison for former KLA leaders.

Spiropali emphasizes that international justice must be impartial, balanced and based on indisputable evidence, without creating the perception of selective treatment of parties involved in the conflict.

The Minister underlines that justice that is perceived as biased risks damaging public trust and leaving new wounds in a region that needs lasting reconciliation.

“The Kosovo Liberation Army was a liberation movement that enjoyed broad support from the international community in the face of a regime that committed systematic violence, ethnic cleansing and widely documented crimes against the civilian population. Any judicial process dealing with individuals from that war must carefully maintain the essential distinction between individual criminal responsibility and the historical character of the freedom struggle,” she states.

Further, it says that the Court has a responsibility to ensure that the process does not allow the language and approach of the Prosecution to unfairly affect the liberation war, the history of independence, and the dignity of those who fought for freedom.

Spiropali emphasizes the importance of concluding the proceedings within a reasonable timeframe and with full respect for international fair trial standards. The future of Kosovo and the stability of the region are built on credible justice that strengthens peace, not perceptions of injustice.

Spiropal reaction

We are following with deep concern today's developments at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, where the Prosecution submitted the proposed sentences against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The length of the detention, which has now passed five years without a final decision, and the nature of the charges brought raise serious questions about proportionality, due process standards and respect for fundamental human rights. This situation increasingly fuels the perception of a one-sided harshness in the handling of this case, especially when compared to the way in which those responsible for the Serbian regime's repressive apparatus have been treated.

Even today, many of the crimes committed by Serbian forces against the civilian population of Kosovo remain unaddressed and without full criminal accountability. This disparity in the pursuit of justice risks creating a sense of double standards and undermining public confidence in international justice.

We believe that international justice must be impartial, balanced and based on incontestable evidence, without creating the perception of selective treatment of parties involved in the conflict. Justice that is perceived as biased risks undermining public trust and leaving new wounds in a region that needs lasting reconciliation.

The Kosovo Liberation Army was a liberation movement that enjoyed broad international support in the face of a regime that committed systematic violence, ethnic cleansing, and widely documented crimes against the civilian population. Any trial dealing with individuals from that war must carefully maintain the essential distinction between individual criminal responsibility and the historical character of the freedom struggle.

The Court today has a special responsibility to ensure that the process does not allow the language and approach of the Prosecution to unfairly affect the liberation war, the history of independence and the dignity of those who fought for freedom. Only a fair decision, based on evidence and the highest standards of justice, can remove the heavy shadow that these attitudes have cast over the historical memory of a just war.

Albania reaffirms that justice must serve truth and reconciliation, not to create narratives that rewrite history or relativize internationally recognized responsibilities for crimes committed during the war in Kosovo.

We emphasize the importance of concluding the proceedings within a reasonable timeframe and with full respect for international fair trial standards. The future of Kosovo and the stability of the region are built on credible, peace-enhancing justice, not perceptions of injustice.

The Republic of Albania will continue to follow this process closely and remains committed to the values ??of the rule of law, international justice and the dignity of the liberation war of the people of Kosovo./ CNA