On Wednesday, Hashim Thaçi, the former President of Kosovo, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes committed during the war for independence from Serbia in 1998-1999. Thaçi had resigned from his position nearly six years ago to confront the charges at the European Union-backed Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
He was convicted on four counts of war crimes, including murder, torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary detention. Both Thaçi and the prosecution, which sought a harsher sentence, can appeal.
The ruling has generated significant backlash among Thaçi’s supporters. It represents a notable setback for a leader who was once embraced by Western countries, having been invited to the 1999 peace talks in France.
In his remarks, Presiding Judge Charles Smith emphasised that Thaçi actively engaged in and encouraged criminal activities, including promoting individuals involved in those crimes. He further noted Thaçi’s “ruthless ability to remove and eliminate political impediments” to his leadership and that of other commanders. Throughout the reading of the sentence, Thaçi remained composed, dressed in a suit and tie.
Supporters against verdict
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Glauk Konjufca, denounced the verdicts as “a terrible judgment for Kosovo and our liberation war.“ Hundreds of supporters gathered near the courthouse in The Hague, with some clashing briefly with Dutch riot police, who reported two arrests.
In Pristina, thousands watched the hearing live and were stunned by the sentence, with some shouting “UCK,“ the acronym for the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“Today’s judgment against the former Kosova Liberation Army leaders, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, is a travesty of justice that must be corrected on appeal as soon as possible,” stated Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo.
Supporter Bekim Fetahu called the verdict “catastrophic,” stating, “They (the judges) have put the victims together with the aggressors.”
Later, masked protesters threw stones at the wall of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, breaking several windows.
Judge emphasises personal responsibility over KLA’s legitimacy
Presiding Judge Smith stated that Thaçi “used his position“ to encourage crimes and failed to address abuses by KLA fighters. He clarified that the trial was “not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army“ or its goal of independence for Kosovo, then a province of Serbia.
Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West commended the judgment, noting that “individuals exploited wartime circumstances to commit grave crimes, and it is to Kosovo’s credit that they are now being held accountable.“
In Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić expressed concern that the verdict may falter on appeal and criticised the trial for ignoring crimes against ethnic Serb civilians, claiming anti-Serb bias.
Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders, all regarded as national heroes in Kosovo, faced the trial and pleaded not guilty. They were acquitted of six charges of crimes against humanity but were found guilty of war crimes, including the arbitrary detention of 385 people and the murder of 96.
Kadri Veseli received an 18-year sentence, Rexhep Selimi 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi 25 years. Veseli’s lawyer, Rodney Dixon, said it was “not a good day for Kosovo or the rule of law“ and pledged to appeal to prove Veseli’s innocence and secure his return to Kosovo.
Thaçi remained defiant until the final moments of his trial
As his trial concluded in February, Thaçi told the judges, “Throughout my life, I stood with the people of Kosovo, defending freedom, life, and dignity.“
However, the court found that Thaçi and his co-defendants targeted political opponents and civilians perceived as collaborators during their time in the KLA. Smith noted, “There is no indication that the victims were spies or collaborators,” emphasising that simply having “Serbian friends or jobs in Serbian companies” was enough for persecution.
Thaçi returned from political exile in Switzerland to join Kosovo’s struggle for independence and earned the nickname “the Snake“ for evading Serb forces. After the war, he rose to political power but resigned as president to face trial in The Hague.
Esther Major of Amnesty International said the convictions show that senior officials are not above the law.
In the Kosovo war, around 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, lost their lives. A NATO airstrike campaign ended the conflict, displacing about 1 million ethnic Albanians. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that Belgrade does not recognise, and tensions remain high despite years of EU-mediated negotiations.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
