One day before the ruling on the former KLA leaders in The Hague, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha issued a strong political statement, saying he expects acquittal for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.
Berisha’s position ahead of the ruling
In his reaction, Berisha described the four former Kosovo leaders as “heroes of Kosovo’s liberation” and said that, in his view, no evidence has been presented against them to support the charges for which they were arrested.
He presented the ruling he expects as the only acceptable outcome for Albanians, expressing support for their acquittal.
Message on respecting the ruling
Despite the clearly political tone of his support for the defendants, Berisha added that any court decision must be respected.
At the same time, he opposed any threat to Kosovo, its order, peace and security in the event that the ruling differs from his expectations.
The six-year process in The Hague
According to Berisha’s statement, the court in The Hague is expected to announce tomorrow a ruling that was reached earlier, after a prolonged six-year process.
The case against the former KLA leaders has been one of the most politically followed proceedings in the Albanian-speaking sphere, with continuous reactions and a strong public and national charge.
Political pressure on the eve of the announcement
Berisha’s statement comes at a delicate moment, when attention is focused on the court’s verdict and when every public message from political leaders is also read as an attempt to influence the climate surrounding the ruling.
At this stage, all that remains to be seen is what the court will announce, while political camps are publicly positioning themselves ahead of a decision of major significance for Kosovo and Albanian public opinion.
Berisha concluded his reaction by stating that Kosovo should not bear the burden of what he considers a potentially unjust judicial decision.
The Hague ruling is expected to bring a long wait to an end and trigger strong political reactions in the region.