Former Kosovo president sentenced to 25 years for war crimes

A special court in The Hague for crimes during the conflict in Kosovo sentenced former president of the self-proclaimed republic Hashim Thaci to 25 years in prison. He was found guilty of war crimes. This was reported by the press service of the court.

Hashim Thaci was convicted of torturing at least 303 people and killing 96 people. In addition, he was accused of arbitrary arrest and detention, ill-treatment. On charges against humanity, the former president of Kosovo was acquitted. The sentence was set at 25 years, taking into account the time already spent in custody. Thaci's associates - former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Kadri Veseli, Recep Selimi, Yakup Krasnichi - were also sentenced to prison terms. They were given 18, 13 and 25 years respectively.

Former President and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, along with three KLA associates, were detained and taken into custody in The Hague on November 5, 2020, and their trial began almost three years later, in April 2023. Prosecutors described the Kosovo Liberation Army as “a well-structured military organization in which the defendants held senior positions.” According to the prosecution, during the years of armed struggle with Serbia, more than 50 KLA centers were created, in which its opponents, including Albanians, Serbs, Roma and others, were illegally detained. They were tortured and killed. Prosecutors demanded 45 years in prison for Hashim Thaci and his associates.

In the material “Kommersant” “The Hague verdict declared explosive”.