# Detention of Jakup Krasniqi and KLA leaders in The Hague

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/detention-of-jakup-krasniqi-in-the-hague
> Updated: 2026-11-06T23:18:30.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

Jakup Krasniqi, the former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, has been held in detention in The Hague since November 2020. In November 2026, his family marked six years of his imprisonment, noting the emotional toll of his detention during his elderly years.

The situation intensified following a September 2026 ruling by the Special Court, which sentenced Krasniqi to 25 years in prison for alleged war crimes. This decision remains subject to appeal. In response to his detention and the judicial process, Krasniqi has reportedly refused medical examinations and healthcare from prison officials. His daughter, Gresa Krasniqi, stated that her father feels his human rights have been denied, claiming, “I am here without rights, every human right has been denied to me... therefore I do not need any care from them.”

In November 2026, the sixth anniversary of the transfer of several former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders to The Hague, including Krasniqi, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi, sparked protests in Kosovo. Protesters and KLA veterans organized demonstrations in front of European Union offices in Pristina, accusing the Special Court of “massacring the truth” and claiming the process is politically motivated. 

Political figures, such as Vlora Çitaku of the PDK, described recent sentencing developments as “unacceptable,” arguing they threaten the historical narrative of Kosovo’s independence. Family members, including Altin and Dardan Krasniqi, have also criticized the prolonged detention and alleged violations of legal standards, calling for a reassessment by the Court of Appeal. Additionally, Hysni Gucati, head of the OVL-UÇK, reported that Krasniqi has refused medical assistance for reported vision problems despite attempts by other detainees to persuade him.

## Claims

- It has been six years since the arrest and transfer of the former KLA leaders to The Hague. (reported by 7 sources)
- Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi were sentenced to a total of 81 years in prison at the first instance. (reported by 4 sources)
- The OVL-UÇK organized a symbolic protest in front of the European Union offices in Pristina. (reported by 4 sources)
- Vlora Çitaku stated that the first-instance verdict is unjust and unacceptable. (reported by 2 sources)
- Dardan Krasniqi accused the Special Court of violating human rights and politicizing the judicial process. (reported by 1 source)
- The UK Ambassador in Kosovo met with Vlora Çitaku to discuss concerns regarding the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. (reported by 1 source)
- Lirim Greiçevci claimed the judicial process in The Hague is a political process masked as a legal one. (reported by 1 source)
- The Kosovo government has established a working group to harmonize the National Strategy regarding appeal procedures. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-11-06: Jakup Krasniqi refuses medical assistance in The Hague

Jakup Krasniqi has refused medical assistance for vision problems while in detention in The Hague, according to OVL-UÇK head Hysni Gucati.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakup-krasniqi-refuses-medical-assistance-in-the-hague

### 2026-11-04: KLA leaders mark six years in detention amid protests

Six years after their arrest, former KLA leaders face an 81-year prison sentence, prompting protests in Pristina and accusations of political bias against the Special Court in The Hague.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakup-krasniqi-marks-six-years-of-detention-in-the-hague

### 2026-10-21: Jakup Krasniqi refuses medical care at The Hague prison

Former Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi has refused medical care at The Hague prison, citing a denial of his human rights and dissatisfaction with the judicial process.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jakup-krasniqi-refuses-medical-care-at-the-hague-prison

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Cite as: Detention of Jakup Krasniqi and KLA leaders in The Hague. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/detention-of-jakup-krasniqi-in-the-hague