Hashim Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Misetic, began his speech by stating that the former president of Kosovo is innocent and this is the starting point from which the decision should be made.
“When you begin your deliberations, you will start from the position that Hashim Thaçi is innocent and then you will assess whether the evidence presented by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has convinced you, beyond reasonable doubt, that Hashim Thaçi is guilty,” Misetic told the judges.
Misetic also cited the testimony of international diplomats, who have stated that Thaçi, on the contrary, has called against violence. “Thaci was not a person who could commit violence,” the lawyer quoted. He added that the prosecution is trying to refute the testimony of the internationals.
"The SPS's claims that the internationals were not properly informed are particularly characteristic considering the centralized manner of the KLA's communications and television interviews. The evidence and testimonies of these international witnesses are strongly reconfirmed by senior KLA officials," the lawyer said.
Thaçi's lawyer, Luka Misetic, has sharply criticized the Prosecution's approach to the process.
"How could the leaders of these KLA directorates have committed actions and these actions were not known to their superior Zyrapi? The prosecution was afraid to confront them and discredit the witnesses," said Luka Misetic.
The lawyer said that "convicting Thaci would constitute a historical injustice" and "they are seeking to rewrite the history of Kosovo."
"There was no evidence of the intentions alleged by the prosecution," he added, emphasizing that no witness said anything about war crimes.