A court supported by the European Union found former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi guilty of four war crimes related to Kosovo’s fight for independence from Serbia. Thaçi, who stepped down from his position six years ago to face the charges, was convicted by judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of murder, torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary detention. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and has the option to appeal, as do the prosecutors. Thaçi, along with three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders, was tried for their roles in the 1998-99 war against Serb forces.
During the sentencing, Thaçi stood silently as Judge Charles Smith delivered the verdict. The outcome marks a significant downfall for Thaçi, once hailed by Western leaders as a potential guide for Kosovo’s path to independence. The KLA leaders on trial, considered national heroes by many, faced a shocked audience in Pristina as the verdict was broadcast live. Supporters expressed dismay, with one calling the decision “catastrophic.”
The trial emphasized that it was not questioning the legitimacy of the KLA or its aim of securing Kosovo’s independence from Serbia. However, the court determined that Thaçi had leveraged his position to endorse criminal activities. The judgment highlighted that Thaçi and his co-defendants targeted political opponents and civilians perceived as collaborators and traitors during their time with the KLA.
While acquitted of crimes against humanity, the judges indicated that the prosecutors failed to demonstrate that the alleged crimes were part of a systematic attack on civilians. Thaçi and his co-defendants denied the charges against them throughout the trial. The court sentenced Kadri Veseli to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison.
The verdict sparked reactions in Kosovo, with Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca condemning the judgments, and thousands rallying in support of the convicted men in Pristina. Thaçi also faces a separate trial for intimidating witnesses, scheduled to commence later this month. During the Kosovo war, which resulted in the deaths of thousands, Thaçi emerged as a key figure known as “the Snake” for his evasion tactics against Serb forces. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move not recognized by Belgrade, leading to ongoing tensions between the two regions.