HAGUE TRIBUNAL HANDS FORMER KOSOVO LEADER 25-YEAR JAIL TERM

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes linked to the 1998-1999 conflict between Kosovo Albanian forces and Serbian forces. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, where Thaci was convicted of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention.

The 58-year-old was accused of committing the offences while serving as a senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which fought Serbian forces during Kosovo’s struggle for independence. Prosecutors alleged that Thaci and other KLA leaders were involved in attacks against civilians and people regarded as political opponents or collaborators.

The court found Thaci criminally responsible for the murder of 96 people, the arbitrary detention of 385 people, torture of 303 individuals and cruel treatment of 49 others. However, the tribunal acquitted him of several crimes against humanity charges after determining that the evidence did not establish the required elements of those offences.

Thaci, who resigned as Kosovo’s president in 2020 to face the case, has consistently denied the allegations against him. Prosecutors had requested a 45-year prison sentence, while Thaci’s defence maintained that he was not responsible for the crimes attributed to the KLA leadership. He is expected to have the opportunity to appeal the judgment.

Three other former senior KLA figures were also convicted in the case. Kadri Veseli was sentenced to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi received 13 years, while Jakup Krasniqi was handed a 25-year prison term. The verdict has triggered strong reactions among Thaci’s supporters, with protests reported in Pristina and around the court in The Hague.