Kosovo ex-president jailed for 25 years for war crimes
Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by a tribunal in The Hague for war crimes, in a verdict that sparked shock and anger among many Kosovars.
On 16 September, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague handed former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi a 25-year prison sentence for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 Kosovo conflict. The 58-year-old, a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, was found guilty of murder, torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary detention.
Alongside Thaçi, three other former KLA commanders—Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi—received the same 25-year sentence. However, they were acquitted of crimes against humanity due to the prosecution's inability to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that civilians were subjected to a widespread or systematic attack. The defendants retain the right to appeal the verdict.
In Pristina, thousands congregated in the city center to witness the verdict on a large screen. Many supporters wept, booed, and chanted "Thaci, Thaci" and "KLA" while waving Kosovo Liberation Army flags. Following the judgment, some of them marched towards the EU rule-of-law mission (EULEX) headquarters, chanting and, in certain places, clashing with riot police. Thaçi had resigned as Kosovo’s president in 2020 to face the trial.
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