Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared on the social media platform “X” a message from Richard Grenell, the U.S. Special Envoy for Special Missions, on the occasion of Kosovo’s Independence Day. Rama endorsed Grenell’s statements, which call for the release of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi.

“Absolutely! And the longer this continues, the bigger the stain on the international justice system!” Rama wrote in his post.

What Did Grenell Say About Kosovo and Thaçi?

American envoy Richard Grenell congratulated Kosovo on its 17th Independence Day, calling it a historic moment overshadowed by injustices against the state of Kosovo.

In his message, Grenell emphasized that Hashim Thaçi, one of the key figures in Kosovo’s declaration of independence, should be celebrating in Pristina rather than behind bars in The Hague.

“I wish all my friends in Kosovo a happy and safe celebration on their 17th Independence Day. However, this historic moment has been overshadowed by a grave injustice. The founding father of Kosovo’s statehood, President Hashim Thaçi, should be celebrating today in Pristina – not behind bars in The Hague. Europeans have failed to act against this injustice for the past five years. And Kosovo’s state institutions have failed to take the necessary legal steps to end this injustice – due to politics. This unjust imprisonment must end.” – Grenell wrote.

Hashim Thaçi, along with other former high-ranking officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), is being tried at the Special Chambers in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity—charges he has categorically denied.