A court in The Hague handling Kosovo war-crimes cases
Kosovo’s leadership faces a defining verdict as the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague convicts former president Hashim Thaci and three other KLA leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Sentences range up to 25 years, while some charges are acquitted. Protests erupt in Pristina and at EULEX facilities as the court emphasizes personal responsibility.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers has found Hashim Thaci guilty of murder, torture, illegal detention and cruel treatment related to the 1998-99 conflict. He has been sentenced to 25 years and awaits appeal. Co-defendants Krasniqi, Veseli, and Selimi were also convicted on various counts; crimes against humanity were not proven.
Protests in Pristina and across Kosovo have intensified after the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other KLA leaders of war crimes. Lawmakers face pressure as opposition pushes to limit the court’s mandate, with parliamentary votes and potential early elections shaping the political crisis ahead of an EU-mentioned path to reform.