Sokol Bashota, former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander, is celebrating the end of investigations into him after testifying in the war crimes trial of former President Hashim Thaci.
The ex-mayor of Kline/Klina and opposition MP for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) shared the news on Facebook, revealing that on November 19, 2024, he was officially told all investigations against him had been halted. Bashota, who had been questioned since 2019, called it a “victory” for him and for the KLA’s struggle.
During his testimony, Bashota explained how KLA commanders had significant power even after the General Staff was formed. “The General Staff just confirmed their names as zone commanders,” he said.
The defence in Thaci’s trial argues the KLA lacked a strict command structure, claiming the defendants aren’t responsible for crimes by lower-ranking fighters. Bashota added that before the General Staff, the KLA operated under a different structure, one from which Thaci was excluded.
He also spoke about the controversial 1998 attack on Rahovec/Orohovac, saying it was a “big mistake.” “We weren’t ready to attack civilian areas,” he admitted.
Thaci, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi, and Kadri Veseli face charges for war crimes, including 102 murders. All deny the charges.