'The Balkans is a powder keg'/ US Congressman appeals to The Hague: The decision against the leaders of the KLA should not...

2026-09-15 14:18:03Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

'The Balkans is a powder keg'/ US Congressman appeals to The Hague:

US Congressman Keith Self has reacted on the eve of an important decision in the trial of Hashim Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders in The Hague, raising concerns about the influence that politics may have on judicial decision-making.

Through a response published on the X platform, the American lawmaker called for the issue to be addressed without political prejudice, while also linking the importance of the process to the fragile situation in the Balkans.

Self claims that in various cases handled at The Hague, a tendency has been observed for political considerations to influence decisions.

He expressed hope that such a thing would not happen in the trial against the former president of Kosovo and the three other defendants.

The American congressman referred to Thaçi and his fellow fighters as Albanians who fought for independence after years of oppression by Serbia.

In his reaction, Self also warned of the consequences that new tensions could have in the region, describing the Balkans as a "powder keg."

According to him, there are oppressive regimes that can benefit from divisions and tensions in the region, instead of contributing to the reconciliation process.

The American congressman's statement comes as attention is focused on developments in The Hague and the trial of Hashim Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders.


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