Kosovo Ex-President Thaçi Sentenced to 25 Years for War Crimes

The Hague-based Special Tribunal for Kosovo on Wednesday delivered its verdict against Hashim Thaçi, the former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and ex-president of Kosovo, sentencing him to 25 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1998–1999 Kosovo War.

Protests in Pristina

The verdict triggered immediate public outrage in Kosovo. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the capital Pristina, where a crowd attempted to storm the EU mission building. Protesters booed the judges and expressed solidarity with Thaçi, whom many Kosovars see as a national hero for his role in the liberation struggle against Serbian forces.

The Charges

The tribunal found Thaçi guilty of murder, persecution, imprisonment and other inhumane acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was detained in November 2020 after indictment and transferred to The Hague. The trial drew international attention and was seen as a landmark accountability process for the Balkans conflict of the 1990s.