{
  "id": 7925245,
  "title": "Hashim Thaci: From 'George Washington of Kosovo' to Hague convict",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/hashim-thaci-from-george-washington-of-kosovo-to-hague-convict",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T02:16:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2026/09/1534556/hashim-thaci-george-washington-kosovo-hague-convict"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hashim Thaci, the former president of Kosovo, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for war crimes. Once revered as a guerrilla hero and symbol of Kosovo's independence struggle, Thaci's reputation has been tarnished by allegations of war crimes, organized crime links, corruption, and political misuse of power. As the leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-1999 conflict with Serbia, Thaci oversaw Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. Born in 1968 in western Kosovo, Thaci's political career saw him serve as prime minister and later president, but his legacy was marred by allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thaci vehemently denies any wrongdoing, insisting that the conflict was a \"just rebellion against Serbian repression.\"",
  "summary": "KOSOVO’S former president Hashim Thaci, sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday for war crimes, has long been seen within the Balkan country as a guerilla hero and symbol of its bloody independence struggle.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hashim Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes",
    "Former Kosovo president once hailed as independence hero",
    "Thaci denies war crimes allegations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The conviction of Hashim Thaci undermines Kosovo's independence narrative, taints the legacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army, and marks a downfall for a once-celebrated national figure.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Hague court convicts Kosovo’s former President Thaci of war crimes, sentences him to 25 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/hague-court-convicts-kosovos-former-president-thaci-of-war-crimes",
        "published": "2026-09-17T01:05:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}