A European Union-backed tribunal in The Hague convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi of four war crimes charges on Wednesday, sentencing him to 25 years in prison for atrocities committed during the territory’s violent 1990s war for independence from Serbia.
The landmark verdict handed down by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers marks a stunning fall for Thaçi, a 58-year-old former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army once courted by Western leaders as a leader who could guide the country toward independence. Presiding Judge Charles Smith delivered the sentence in a silent courtroom, convicting Thaçi of murder, torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary detention.
Prosecutors had sought a maximum 45-year sentence for Thaçi, who resigned from the presidency nearly six years ago to face the tribunal. Three co-defendants and former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders received substantial prison terms alongside him: Jakup Krasniqi was sentenced to 25 years, Kadri Veseli received 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi was handed a 13-year term. All four defendants denied the charges.
Command Responsibility and the Rejection of Systematic Crimes Against Humanity
The American presiding judge emphasized that the proceedings were not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army or its ultimate goal of securing independence for Kosovo from Serbian rule. However, the court found that Thaçi used his position, leadership, authority and standing to encourage abuses against political rivals and perceived traitors.
According to the tribunal, the KLA leadership targeted individuals suspected of collaborating with Serbian security forces or maintaining ties with Serbian employers. Judge Smith noted that the victims included ordinary citizens whose primary infractions were having Serbian friends or jobs in Serbian companies, noting there was no actual indication those targeted were spies.
While securing convictions on individual war crimes counts—including the specific murder of 96 political opponents and perceived collaborators highlighted by the Kosovo war crimes tribunal—the judges acquitted all four men on six separate charges of crimes against humanity. The panel ruled that prosecutors failed to prove that the offenses constituted a widespread or systematic attack on civilians. All convicted individuals retain the right to appeal.
Street Protests in Pristina and Deep Regional Divisions
The judgment triggered immediate outrage in Kosovo, where former KLA leaders are revered as national heroes who fought against oppressive state forces during the 1998–99 conflict that left an estimated 13,000 dead. Thousands of citizens gathered in central Pristina to watch the verdict broadcast live on massive screens, erupting in shock and anger as the sentences were read. Demonstrators chanted the Albanian-language acronym for the Kosovo Liberation Army.
“Throughout my life, I stood with the people of Kosovo, defending freedom, life and dignity. I was always guided by the Western ideals of democracy, equality and justice.”
Hashim Thaçi, former Kosovo President
Political leaders across the region offered sharply contrasting reactions. Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca condemned the outcome, calling it a terrible judgment for Kosovo, for our people and for our liberation war. In Serbia, officials welcomed the decision as vindication, with Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic describing the convictions as a clear, and albeit belated, confirmation of what Serbia and the Serbian people have been saying loudly for more than a quarter of a century regarding the nature of the KLA.
Political Deadlock and Unresolved Witness Intimidation Trials Ahead
Legal proceedings for the former president are far from over. Because the staff at the European Union-backed tribunal operate under strict international oversight due to persistent security concerns and witness tampering risks—typified by a 2022 conviction of war veterans for leaking confidential case files—Thaçi faces a separate trial on charges of intimidating witnesses scheduled to begin later this month.
