FOCUS — The Hague Court’s Verdict on Former KLA Leaders Draws International Media Attention

International media have portrayed the Hague Special Court’s verdict as a significant moment for international justice and Kosovo’s political history, highlighting the sentencing of Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison for war crimes, while the charges of crimes against humanity were dropped for lack of sufficient evidence.

German news agency DPA:

Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by a special court in The Hague for war crimes. The court ruled today that Thaçi was responsible for 96 murders. He was also accused of other serious crimes, such as torture and cruel treatment. The 58-year-old had previously declared himself “fully innocent.” He heard the verdict without showing any emotion. The prosecution had sought a 45-year prison sentence for Thaçi for the crimes committed in the late 1990s. Nearly 300 witnesses testified at the trial and 155 victims took part in the proceedings.

French news agency AFP:

A special court for Kosovo based in The Hague today sentenced former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison for war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) against Serb forces in the 1990s. The international panel of judges from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers found Thaçi guilty of “unlawful arrest, torture, murder and cruel treatment.” “The Chamber sentences you to a single sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, deducting any time already served,” said presiding judge Charles Smith III during the reading of the verdict. Thaçi, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie, heard the verdict without showing emotion. President of Kosovo at the time the indictment was raised against him, in November 2020, he resigned and surrendered to The Hague.

Italian news agency ANSA:

Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years in prison for several alleged war crimes and was acquitted of charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1998–2000 Kosovo war by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague, where he stood trial. “Thaçi was aware of the crimes committed by KLA militants against Albanian opponents and collaborators and even took part in some of them,” said judge Robert Smith III. Thaçi, present in the courtroom, appeared emotionless as the verdict was read.

British news agency Reuters:

Hashim Thaçi was found guilty of war crimes, including the murder of 96 political opponents and persons suspected of collaborating with Serb forces, the arbitrary detention of 385 people, the torture of 303 people and the cruel treatment of 49 others. The court said Thaçi had taken part in and encouraged the commission of these crimes as part of a joint criminal plan. The three other former KLA commanders were given long prison sentences: Jakup Krasniqi 25 years, Kadri Veseli 18 years and Rexhep Selimi 13 years, bringing the total of the sentences to 81 years. The prosecution had sought 45 years in prison for each, while the court dismissed six charges of crimes against humanity, finding it was not proven that they were committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population. Thaçi has denied the charges and is expected to appeal the verdict.

US news agency Associated Press:

The Special Court in The Hague today sentenced former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison, after finding him guilty of four war crimes: murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. Thaçi has denied the charges and both he and the prosecution have the right to appeal the verdict.

US newspaper “The Washington Post”:

Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of four war crimes: murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. The court found him and his co-defendants guilty of crimes that affected hundreds of people during the Kosovo war. Alongside Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, while Rexhep Selimi to 13 years. All four former KLA leaders were acquitted of the six charges of crimes against humanity, as the trial panel found the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the crimes were part of a widespread and systematic attack on the civilian population. The prosecution had sought 45 years in prison for each of the four defendants, while the defense had sought their acquittal. Today’s verdict is first-instance and both the defense and the prosecution have the right to appeal.