Hashim Thaci, the former President of Kosovo, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. This ruling was issued by the war crimes court in The Hague and relates to his charges regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Kosovo independence war from Serbia between 1998 and 1999.
Details of the Conviction
Thaci, who was previously one of the political leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), has been accused of committing crimes such as murder, torture, and unlawful detention. Prosecutors have claimed that KLA forces killed over 100 political opponents and individuals identified as collaborators with Serbian security forces during and after the Kosovo war.
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Defense Claims and Political Status
Thaci's defense team has argued that he and other senior KLA leaders cannot be held responsible for such acts, as the group lacked a structured command. His lawyers also emphasized that there is no direct evidence linking his orders to any of the alleged crimes.
Thaci is regarded as a national hero in Kosovo, and both the KLA and he are seen as symbols of the country's independence movement. After the war, Thaci remained a key political figure and played an important role in declaring Kosovo's independence from Serbia in 2008.
The court's ruling was broadcast live in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, where thousands of Thaci and KLA supporters gathered. This event followed protests held over the past weekend, where tens of thousands called for the acquittal of these individuals.
Foreign embassies have warned of the potential for unrest following the ruling. Albin Kurti, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, stated before the ruling: "Our war was just and a war of freedom. We hope that KLA leaders will return to their country and families." Thaci resigned as president after the announcement of the charges against him in 2020 and has been in custody in The Hague since then.
The special court handling this case was established as the Kosovo Specialist Court (KSC) in 2016. This court was set up to prosecute alleged KLA war crimes and, despite being established under Kosovo law, has little popularity in Kosovo.
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