Former Kosovo president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been found guilty of war crimes by the Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Thaci, 58, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for committing crimes as the head of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the territory's break from Serbia in the 1990s. The tribunal convicted Thaci of the murder of 96 political opponents and perceived collaborators, the illegal detention of 385 people, and the torture of 303 individuals.

Presiding judge Charles Smith described the scale and nature of the crimes as "very serious." Thaci's actions, according to the court, included actively participating in and encouraging these crimes. Thaci, who remained silent during the verdict, denied all charges and has the right to appeal the decision. The ruling has sparked protests in Kosovo and Serbia, with supporters gathering in Pristina and the Hague to show their disapproval of the verdict.