The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has reacted to the request of the Special Prosecution for sentences of up to 45 years in prison for former President Hashim Thaçi and former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

In her reaction, Osmani emphasizes that Kosovo’s independence is the result of the will of its people and a centuries-long sacrifice, underlining that the KLA’s war was just and clean, while acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes were committed by Serbia against the people of Kosovo.

Full statement by Vjosa Osmani:

“Kosovo’s independence was the will of the people of Kosovo. It was a centuries-long sacrifice for which thousands of martyrs and innocent civilians gave their lives, and for which the Kosovo Liberation Army fought with heroism and a clean war.

Genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are crimes that Serbia committed against the people of Kosovo over centuries.

During the last war in Kosovo, Serbia aimed at the extermination of the Albanian people—an aim it demonstrated through the killing and massacring of thousands of children, women, men, and elderly people; the rape of thousands of women and men; the destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes; the forced displacement of over 80% of Kosovo’s citizens from their homes; ethnic cleansing; the enforced disappearance of thousands of people; and other horrific crimes.

Any attempt to equate the KLA’s liberation war with the crimes of the genocidal Serbian aggressor undermines trust in justice and seriously damages long-term peace.

Kosovo and its citizens seek justice. The KLA’s war was just and clean. This truth cannot be changed by attempts to rewrite history or to tarnish and devalue the struggle of the people of Kosovo for freedom.”