General News
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi Sentenced to 25 Years for War Crimes
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 16, 2026 | The Hague / Pristina
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after a Kosovo Specialist Chambers trial in The Hague found him guilty of four war crimes committed during the 1998–99 Kosovo conflict.
Court finds Thaçi criminally responsible
According to the verdict reported by Reuters, the court found Thaçi responsible for the murder of 96 people, the illegal detention of 385 people, torture involving 303 people, and cruel treatment of 49 people.
The court’s findings related to what prosecutors described as a joint criminal enterprise targeting people regarded as opponents of the KLA. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 45 years.
However, the court acquitted Thaçi and his co-defendants of several crimes against humanity charges, citing insufficient evidence to establish those allegations to the required legal standard.
Court finds Thaçi criminally responsible
According to the verdict reported by Reuters, the court found Thaçi responsible for the murder of 96 people, the illegal detention of 385 people, torture involving 303 people, and cruel treatment of 49 people.
The court’s findings related to what prosecutors described as a joint criminal enterprise targeting people regarded as opponents of the KLA. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 45 years.
However, the court acquitted Thaçi and his co-defendants of several crimes against humanity charges, citing insufficient evidence to establish those allegations to the required legal standard.
From guerrilla commander to Kosovo president
Thaçi emerged as one of the most prominent figures of the Kosovo independence movement during the 1990s. He was a senior figure in the KLA during the conflict with Serbian forces and later became an important participant in international peace negotiations.
He subsequently entered politics, serving as Kosovo’s prime minister before becoming president. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
His political career was interrupted in 2020, when he resigned as president after the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office confirmed an indictment against him. He was subsequently transferred to The Hague to face trial.
Four defendants in the case
Thaçi was tried alongside three other former senior KLA figures: Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers says the case concerned alleged crimes committed between at least March 1998 and September 1999 in several locations in Kosovo and in northern Albania. The indictment included allegations involving civilians and people who were not taking part in the conflict.
The trial began in April 2023. The court’s official case record says 134 witnesses testified, while evidentiary proceedings concluded in December 2025. Closing statements were held in February 2026.
Reaction in Kosovo
The verdict has generated strong reactions in Kosovo, where Thaçi remains an important figure in the country’s modern political history.
Supporters gathered in Pristina ahead of the judgment, while demonstrations were also reported following the verdict. Reuters reported that Thaçi supporters briefly clashed with police in The Hague.
For many supporters, Thaçi and other former KLA commanders remain associated with Kosovo’s struggle against Serbian rule. The proceedings have therefore been closely followed in Kosovo and neighboring Serbia, where the legacy of the 1998–99 conflict remains politically sensitive.
Thaçi expected to appeal
Thaçi has consistently denied the allegations against him. Following Wednesday’s judgment, he is expected to appeal the conviction and sentence.
The case was heard by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a judicial institution based in The Hague that was established to investigate and prosecute allegations of serious crimes connected to the Kosovo conflict.
The court’s judgment represents a major legal development in the long-running effort to establish individual accountability for crimes committed during and after the Kosovo war.
The verdict does not conclude the case if an appeal is filed, meaning the legal proceedings could continue before an appeals panel.
The information in this report reflects the judgment and reporting available on September 16, 2026.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Sky News.