Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague sentenced former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of war crimes during Kosovo’s conflict with Serbia during the 1990s.
Thaçi was convicted by a panel of judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention during his service as a combatant with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the 1998-99 war.
The sentence was passed by Judge Charles Smith on the former President.
Read more: Kosovo's 'political earthquake' election sees Kurti resurgent
Thaçi faced multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and persecution, alongside Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli, who served as high-ranking commanders of the KLA.
Thousands of people rallied in Pristina, Kosovo's capital in support of those convicted in red and black Albanian flags.
Portraits of the four former KLA commanders have been plastered across the city alongside a large digital clock counting down to Wednesday's verdicts.
“In the name of the people, declare them innocent," a banner read, according to AP.
Read more: Tony Blair is revered in Kosovo for helping end its war. Many ask if he can succeed again in Gaza
Prosecutors at the Kosovo war crimes tribunal have sought a maximum 45-year prison sentence for Thaçi and the other defendants who have denied all charges leveled against them.
“Throughout my life, I stood with the people of Kosovo defending freedom, life and dignity. I was always guided by the Western ideals of democracy, equality and justice,” said Thaçi during the hearing, as reported by AP.
According to prosecutors, the former KLA combatants targeted political opponents and civilians who were perceived as collaborators and traitors.
The tribunal staff was largely international to ensure witness safety and security.
In 2022, the court convicted two leaders of a Kosovo war veterans’ association for witness intimidation by publicising leaked confidential documents.
The former Kosovo President would also face a separate trial on charges of witness intimidation later this month.
Thaçi was a student when he had returned to join Kosovo’s independence movement and earned the moniker of “the Snake” for his ability to evade Serb forces during the war.
Western leaders embraced Thaçi and invited him to the 1999 peace talks in France in his role as political director of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
The former KLA commander rose to become the President of Kosovo after the war but later resigned to defend himself before the court in The Hague.
An estimated 13,000 people died during the war in Kosovo, most of whom were ethnic Albanians.
A 78-day NATO airstrike campaign against Serbian forces ended the conflict which displaced around 1 million ethnic Albanian Kosovars.
In 2008, Kosovo had declared independence from Serbia which Belgrade has refused to recognise to this date.
The ties between the two Balkan countries remain tense despite years of negotiations mediated by the European Union supported by the United States.
(With inputs from AP)
