{
  "id": 7782934,
  "title": "Former Kosovo president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-thaci-sentenced-to-25-years-for-war-crimes-7782934",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T11:57:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/former-kosovo-president-thaci-sentenced-to-25-years-for-war-crimes/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kosovo's former President Hashim Thaci was convicted on Wednesday by the Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague for 25 years in prison. The charges included murder, torture, and illegal detention during the violent break from Serbia in the 1990s. Thaci, 58, was found guilty of ordering the murders of 96 political opponents and collaborators with Serbian security forces, detaining 385 individuals without cause, and inflicting torture on 303 people. None of the victims were actively involved in hostilities at the time of the alleged crimes. Presiding judge Charles Smith described Thaci's actions as part of a plan involving the establishment of detention facilities, identification of perceived opponents, and arrest and detention, often resulting in death. Thaci, who remained silent during the verdict, denied all charges and retains the right to appeal. The ruling was met with protests in Pristina and The Hague, with supporters of Thaci facing police in The Hague and a crowd gathering in Kosovo's capital. The verdict was widely criticized, with some calling it \"shameful\" and expressing disbelief. Prosecutors had sought a 45-year sentence but were only able to prove six charges of crimes against humanity, arguing that the prosecution had not demonstrated widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population.",
  "summary": "Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci was found guilty of war crimes including murder, torture and illegal detention by the Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Kosovo ex-president Thaci faces Hague war crimes verdict",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/kosovo-ex-president-thaci-faces-hague-war-crimes-verdict",
        "published": "2026-09-16T07:28:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci faces verdict for alleged war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-hashim-thaci-faces-verdict-for-alleged-war",
        "published": "2026-09-16T07:49:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Kosovo's former president jailed for 25 years over war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/kosovos-former-president-jailed-for-25-years-over-war-crimes",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Former Kosovo president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-thaci-sentenced-to-25-years-for-war-crimes",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:56:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Kosovo's former President Thaçi convicted of war crimes at Hague court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/kosovos-former-president-thaci-convicted-of-war-crimes-at-hague-court",
        "published": "2026-09-16T09:58:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Former Kosovo president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-thaci-sentenced-to-25-years-for-war-crimes-7764452",
        "published": "2026-09-16T10:01:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Former Kosovo president Thaci gets 25 years in prison for war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-thaci-gets-25-years-in-prison-for-war-crimes",
        "published": "2026-09-16T10:14:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Former Kosovo president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/former-kosovo-president-thaci-sentenced-to-25-years-for-war-crimes-7767601",
        "published": "2026-09-16T11:00:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}