At the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, the closing statement session continues today in the trial of former KLA leaders: Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
Jakup Krasniqi's defense has another hour and a half today to complete its closing statement, which it began on Friday.
Aiden Ellis, who represents Jakup Krasniqi, said on Friday that, according to the evidence, it has not been proven that his client had primary responsibility for the communications.
According to the defense, the Prosecution's file states that Krasniqi had primary responsibility for the communiqués and was their drafter and editor.
"It has never been proven that Mr. Krasniqi had primary responsibility for the communications. I will conclude by saying that paragraph 554 of the Prosecution's file is a clear example of the ways in which the Prosecution has failed," Ellis said.
Jakup Krasniqi's lawyer, Venkateswari Alagendra, said that Jakup Krasniqi should be declared innocent and returned to his family.
She emphasized in her speech that Krasniqi has been in detention in The Hague for 1.926 days.
"We submit that there is only one option: to reach a verdict of not guilty on all charges brought against Jakup Krasniqi. At the end of the submission, we will call on the honorable court to declare Krasniqi innocent and allow this 75-year-old gentleman to return to his family and spend the years that God has destined for him with his family," she said.
Lawyer Alagendra stated that the Specialized Prosecutor's Office relies on speculation and unsubstantiated allegations in the accusations against Krasniqi. According to her, there is no witness who claims that Krasniqi mistreated anyone.
Krasniqi's defense accused the Prosecution of selecting documents and parts of witness testimony according to its interests, adding that it ignored parts of the evidence that did not fit the SPO.
The Prosecution's closing arguments began on February 9, 2026, and ended the following day, on February 10, when the chief specialized prosecutor, Kimberly West, requested a unique sentence of 45 years in prison for each of the four defendants.
On February 10, the defense gave its final speech, while on February 11, 2026, Hashim Thaçi's defense gave its final speech and Kadri Veseli's began, which continued on February 12. After its conclusion, Rexhep Selimi's defense began.
Everyone demanded that the former KLA leaders be acquitted, saying that the prosecution had not argued otherwise.
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