Story perspectives

Thaci Gets 25 Years as Kosovo Panel Sentences Former Leaders

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 11:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Kosovo Specialist Chambers sentenced former President Hashim Thaci to 25 years in prison in The Hague.
Jakup Krasniqi received 25 years, Kadri Veseli 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi 13 years.
The three-judge panel dismissed six crimes-against-humanity counts, citing insufficient proof of a systematic attack.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the sentences an unacceptable injustice for the Albanian nation.

History

Historical Context

The UN-created International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, founded in 1993, indicted 161 people and secured 90 convictions, establishing precedent for holding Balkan leaders accountable. After Miloševic’s death in 2006 during his ICTY trial, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers followed that legacy by sentencing former president Hashim Thaci to 25 years in 2023, reinforcing regional war-crimes justice.

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Story summary

Kosovo Specialist Chambers sentenced former President Hashim Thaci to 25 years in prison in The Hague.
Jakup Krasniqi received 25 years, Kadri Veseli 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi 13 years.
The three-judge panel dismissed six crimes-against-humanity counts, citing insufficient proof of a systematic attack.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the sentences an unacceptable injustice for the Albanian nation.

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