Court Sentences Hashim Thaci and KLA Leaders to Prison

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague convicted four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) of war crimes on September 16, 2026. Hashim Thaci, the former President of Kosovo and top KLA commander, and former Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. Kadri Veseli received 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi was sentenced to 13 years.

The court found the men responsible for a common criminal purpose between April 1998 and June 20, 1999, resulting in the murder of 96 people, the torture of 303, the cruel treatment of 49, and the arbitrary detention of 385 individuals. Victims included Serbs, Roma, and Kosovo Albanians perceived as political opponents. However, the tribunal acquitted all four defendants of crimes against humanity, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove a widespread or systematic attack against civilians.

The verdict triggered protests in Pristina and scuffles between supporters and police in The Hague. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama described the ruling as "Unbelievable," while Serbian official Ivica Dačić stated the verdict confirmed the KLA was a terrorist organization. The United States government expressed respect for the judgment and urged all parties to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. Thaci, who denied all charges and faces a separate case for alleged obstruction of justice, maintains the right to appeal.