Kosovo's former president Thaci sentenced to 25 years for war crimes

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague convicted former President Hashim Thaci on 16 September 2026, sentencing him to 25 years in prison for war crimes committed during Kosovo's 1990s independence war from Serbia. Thaci, 58, a co-founder and former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), was found guilty of four counts including murder, torture, illegal detention, and cruel treatment. The tribunal determined he was responsible for the murder of 96 political opponents and perceived collaborators with Serbian security forces. With credit for nearly six years already served in custody, he will serve approximately 19 additional years.

Three other former KLA senior commanders were sentenced in the same trial: Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, all including time served. All four men were acquitted of six charges of crimes against humanity after judges determined prosecutors failed to prove the crimes were part of a widespread and systematic attack on civilians. Presiding Judge Charles Smith stated before sentencing: "No flag is big enough to hide the shame of killing innocent people."

Thaci's legal team had argued there was no direct evidence linking him to the crimes, noting the absence of orders from Thaci to perpetrators or reports from perpetrators to him. The defendants denied all charges. The trial, which began in September 2025, involved approximately 140 victims participating in proceedings, with prosecutors requiring roughly two years to present evidence.

The verdict triggered strong reactions in Kosovo, where tens of thousands gathered in the capital Pristina to watch the verdict announcement on large screens. Many Kosovars view Thaci and the KLA as revered figures for their role in securing independence. In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, a move Belgrade refuses to recognize. The 1998–99 war resulted in over 10,000 deaths, predominantly ethnic Albanians, and displaced approximately one million ethnic Albanian Kosovars. A 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian forces ended the conflict. Thaci served as Kosovo's first prime minister after independence and later as president until he resigned in 2020 to face charges.