The conviction of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has triggered protests in Prishtina and The Hague, highlighting the deep divisions surrounding the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the legacy of the 1998–1999 war. The court sentenced Thaçi to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of war crimes including murder, torture and illegal detention.
The verdict is not final. Thaçi and the three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) figures convicted alongside him can appeal, and they will remain detained in The Hague during the appeals process.
What the Kosovo war crimes court decided
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers found Thaçi and former KLA leaders Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli responsible for crimes committed during and shortly after the Kosovo war.
The court said the defendants had contributed significantly to a common criminal purpose aimed at targeting people viewed as opponents of the KLA’s political and military objectives. The charges included illegal arrests, cruel treatment, torture and murder.
- Hashim Thaçi: 25 years in prison
- Jakup Krasniqi: 25 years in prison
- Rexhep Selimi: 13 years in prison
- Kadri Veseli: 18 years in prison
The defendants were acquitted of crimes against humanity charges. The court said the crimes included the deaths of 96 ethnic Albanians, Serbs and Roma, including people described as political opponents of the KLA. Judges also referred to victims who died after severe beatings and to the treatment of bodies in ways that further violated their dignity.
Protests follow the Hashim Thaçi war crimes sentence
Thousands of people gathered in Prishtina to watch the judgment on a large public screen. Many supporters had expected an acquittal, but the crowd fell silent when the sentences were announced before dispersing.
Later, demonstrators marched towards the headquarters of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX. Some protesters clashed with riot police and threw stones at the building. A group remained outside for several hours, blocking traffic and refusing police instructions to leave before later departing for Prishtina airport.
Supporters had gathered there to welcome Thaçi’s son, Endrit Thaçi, and Veseli’s son, Klestor Veseli, after their return from the sentencing in The Hague.
There were also confrontations near the court in The Hague. Police used water cannon to disperse demonstrators, some of whom attempted to approach the court building and climbed onto a police vehicle.
Why the verdict is politically sensitive in Kosovo
Thaçi remains a celebrated figure among many Kosovo Albanians because of his role in the independence movement. He was a senior KLA figure during the war and later became Kosovo’s prime minister, foreign minister and president. He also played a central role in Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008.
That political history has made the proceedings particularly contentious. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers was established under Kosovo law but operates in The Hague with international judges and staff. Its mandate is to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes committed by KLA members during the war.
The court has faced strong criticism in Kosovo since its creation. The use of evidence supplied by Serbia has intensified accusations from Thaçi’s supporters that the process was politically motivated. The court has rejected the idea that its proceedings are a political judgment, while the verdict itself stated that the seriousness of the crimes was substantial.
Thaçi has consistently denied wrongdoing. Before the judgment, he said he expected to be fully acquitted.
Kosovo’s government calls for an appeal
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti described the verdict as a serious and harmful punishment and said the findings should be challenged through the appeals process. He argued that the court’s decision did not reflect the purpose for which the KLA was formed.
Kurti’s comments underline the political sensitivity of the ruling, but they do not alter the legal status of the judgment. The sentence remains subject to review by the court’s appeals process.
Thaçi also faces a separate trial concerning alleged obstruction of justice connected with the case. Prosecutors have requested a six-year sentence in that proceeding. The source material does not indicate that a final judgment has been issued in the second case.
Serbia criticises the ruling for different reasons
The reaction in Serbia was also critical, although President Aleksandar Vučić objected to what he described as the court’s failure to properly address crimes against Serb civilians. He argued that the judgment did not include convictions on the most serious crimes against humanity charges and accused the process of reflecting anti-Serb bias.
The opposing reactions illustrate the wider regional difficulty of addressing allegations from the Kosovo war. In Kosovo, many supporters see the defendants as independence-era heroes. In Serbia, the ruling has been viewed through concerns about the treatment of Serb victims and the broader record of wartime accountability.
What happens next?
The convictions and sentences can be appealed. Until the appeals process concludes, Thaçi and the other convicted defendants will remain in detention in The Hague. Time already served since Thaçi surrendered to the court in 2020 will count towards his sentence.
The case has consequences beyond the defendants themselves. It places renewed pressure on Kosovo’s political institutions, EU-supported rule-of-law structures and relations across the Western Balkans. EULEX has a role in Kosovo’s rule-of-law environment, but the Kosovo Specialist Chambers is a separate court established under Kosovo law and based in the Netherlands.
For the European Union, the immediate challenge is to support the judicial process while responding to public anger in Kosovo and preserving stability. The protests remained focused on the verdict, but further demonstrations could increase tensions around the court and EU-linked institutions.
The wider European significance
The judgment is significant European news because it concerns accountability for alleged wartime crimes, the role of international justice and stability in the Western Balkans. It also demonstrates how legal proceedings involving former political leaders can have direct consequences for public order and regional diplomacy.
The case is not yet legally complete. The appeals process will determine whether the convictions or sentences are changed, upheld or otherwise reviewed. Until then, the verdict remains a major but contested development in Kosovo’s post-war political history.
Conclusion
The Hashim Thaçi war crimes verdict has exposed the unresolved political and social divisions surrounding Kosovo’s war legacy. The former president and three former KLA leaders have been convicted, but the decision is not final and may be challenged on appeal. The next stage will be closely watched in Kosovo, Serbia and across Europe as the courts consider the legal challenges and authorities seek to prevent further unrest.
