Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of war crimes by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Netherlands.
The landmark verdict was delivered on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following a lengthy trial examining crimes committed during Kosovo’s 1998–1999 conflict with Serbia.
Thaçi, 58, a former senior leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), was convicted of four war crimes involving murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. Judges found that the crimes targeted people considered political opponents or suspected of collaborating with Serbian authorities.
According to the court’s findings, Thaçi and three other former senior KLA figures were held responsible for the murders of 96 people, as well as the unlawful detention and mistreatment of hundreds of others.
Thaçi has consistently denied wrongdoing and has the right to appeal the judgment.
Three of his former KLA colleagues were also sentenced. Jakup Krasniqi received 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli was sentenced to 18 years, while Rexhep Selimi received a 13-year sentence.
The judges, however, acquitted the defendants on six crimes-against-humanity charges after concluding prosecutors had not proven that the alleged crimes formed part of a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population.
Thaçi was one of the most influential figures in Kosovo’s independence movement and later served as the country’s prime minister, foreign minister and president. He resigned as president in November 2020 after his indictment was confirmed and traveled to The Hague to face proceedings.
The verdict has drawn strong reactions in Kosovo, where many supporters continue to regard Thaçi and other former KLA leaders as central figures in the country’s struggle for independence. Thousands gathered in Pristina as the judgment was announced.
The ruling marks one of the most significant judgments yet delivered by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers over crimes connected to the Kosovo war.
