Full Breakdown
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Three Ex-KLA Leaders Sentenced for War Crimes
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Verdict Delivered by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers
On September 16, 2026, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague found former President Hashim Thaci and three former KLA officials—Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi—guilty of war crimes committed during the 1998-99 conflict. Thaci and Krasniqi received 25-year sentences, Veseli 18 years, and Selimi 13 years. All were acquitted of crimes against humanity because the prosecution did not prove a systematic attack on civilians.
War-time Context and Tribunal Creation
The KLA emerged in the mid-1990s as an ethnic-Albanian guerrilla movement opposing Serbian control of Kosovo. After NATO’s 78-day air campaign forced Serbian forces to withdraw, Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a status still unrecognised by Serbia. In 2015 Kosovo established the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, appointing international judges and prosecutors to protect witnesses and ensure independence from local political influence.
Convictions and Numbers
- Murder: 96 victims identified as political opponents or perceived collaborators.
- Arbitrary detention: 385 individuals held in KLA-controlled facilities.
- Torture: 303 detainees subjected to beatings, electric shocks, and other abuse.
- Cruel treatment: 49 victims suffered inhumane conditions, including lack of food and medical care.
The judges concluded the defendants participated in a “joint criminal enterprise” that operated detention sites, a military police force, and an intelligence service to eliminate perceived opposition.
Official Reactions
Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the sentencing “an unacceptable injustice” and warned it would deepen political divisions. In Serbia, Vladimir Jelenic, a Belgrade resident, criticised the ruling as too lenient, arguing Serbian victims had not been adequately considered.
Public Protests and On-the-Ground Reports
Thousands gathered in Pristina’s central square to watch the verdict on large screens, displaying KLA flags and chanting “UÇK.” Police deployed riot units and water cannons after attempts to breach the EULEX perimeter. In The Hague, supporters assembled in a nearby park to listen to a live audio feed; Dutch police used water cannons to disperse a crowd that tried to approach the tribunal building.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prosecutors had sought maximum sentences of up to 45 years for each defendant, but the panel imposed terms ranging from 13 to 25 years. The judges dismissed six charges of crimes against humanity, citing insufficient evidence of a widespread or systematic attack. No other major factual discrepancies appear across sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This verdict is shameful. From today, there will be no peace in Kosovo,” — Raif Pllana, former KLA fighter
- “It is a truly sad, unjust, undeserved decision for the four KLA leaders,” — Glauk Konjufca, Kosovo foreign minister
- “ "The conviction and such a severe sentence for four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army is an unacceptable injustice, a great and harmful punishment," Kurti said on Wednesday.” — Albin Kurti, prime minister
- “This case is not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army and its goal of independence for Kosovo.” — Charles Smith, presiding judge
These statements capture the perspectives of the convicted leader’s supporters, Kosovo’s government, and the tribunal’s framing of the case.