Sentenced to 81 years in prison in total, Specialist Court publishes full judgment

The Trial Panel of the Specialist Court today delivered the judgment in the trial case of Hashim Thaҫi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

The Specialist Court also published the full judgment.

“The Trial Panel found that all four accused were criminally responsible for the war crimes of arbitrary detention against 385 persons, cruel treatment against 49 persons, torture against 303 persons and unlawful killing against 96 persons.

The Trial Panel found the accused not guilty of crimes against humanity, as the Specialist Prosecutor failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population had been carried out. The accused were also found not guilty in connection with a number of war-crime incidents,” the announcement states.

The Trial Panel sentenced Hashim Thaҫi to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years in prison, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years in prison and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison, including time served in detention.

“The judges found that during the conflict in Kosovo, Mr. Thaҫi, Mr. Veseli, Mr. Selimi and Mr. Krasniqi made a significant contribution to implementing the common criminal purpose of targeting those considered opponents of the political and military goals of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including Kosovo Albanians linked to other political or military forces, such as the LDK and FARK; persons alleged to be linked to the authorities of the FRY/Serbia; and certain members of other ethnic minorities, including a number of Roma and Serbs,” it continues.

According to the announcement, the targeting of these opponents took the form of killings; unlawful arrests and detentions; physical and psychological mistreatment; as well as other forms of mistreatment, intimidation and harassment.

With limited exceptions, the Trial Panel found there was no evidence that any of the victims had been involved in criminal activity, had taken active part in combat, or constituted any other legitimate security concern for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

“The vast majority of them were innocent civilians who became victims of the implementation of the common criminal plan, in which they were labeled — often falsely and generally without any basis — as collaborators or spies. Many victims spoke about the long-term psychological and physical consequences of their suffering,” it continues.

According to the announcement, in determining the sentence, the Trial Panel carefully assessed the relevant facts, the gravity of the crimes, the type and degree of each accused’s personal involvement, as well as mitigating and aggravating circumstances. The Trial Panel also took into account that some victims were particularly vulnerable, for example due to their age or because they were forced to watch the mistreatment or killing of their family members.

“During the hearing, the Presiding Judge emphasized that the trial was not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army and its aim for an independent Kosovo, but about the use of certain criminal means by some of its members to achieve these goals. The Presiding Judge also explained that the trial was not about the crimes that, undoubtedly, Serb forces and paramilitaries committed against Kosovo Albanians.

The trial concerned only the questions of whether the crimes alleged in the Indictment had been committed and whether the accused could be held criminally responsible for them,” the announcement states.

The role of each of the accused

Regarding Hashim Thaҫi, according to the Specialist Court’s announcement, the Trial Panel found that, as a member of the General Staff and head of the Political Directorate, he was a key member in formulating and implementing the common purpose that included setting up detention facilities; identifying persons considered opponents of the KLA; arresting and detaining them; and, if necessary, killing them.

“This included targeting alleged ‘collaborators,’ creating the structure, competent bodies and regulations for this purpose, and using ‘special warfare’ against opponents, including through the publication of communiqués and political statements and other public statements expressing tolerance and encouragement for the commission of crimes against opponents.”

It further states that the Trial Panel also found that Hashim Thaҫi personally took part in crimes, including the arrest, arbitrary detention and interrogation of 13 parliamentarians, and the arrest, detention, transfer and unlawful killing of Behajdin Allaqi.

He also spread false information about detainees and victims of crimes committed by KLA members, gave false guarantees about respect for international humanitarian law on behalf of the KLA, and contributed to the policy of impunity regarding perpetrators of crimes against opponents.

Regarding Kadri Veseli, the Trial Panel found that, as head of the Intelligence Directorate, his main responsibilities included identifying, gathering information, surveilling and neutralizing persons suspected of being “collaborators.”

“The Trial Panel also found that Mr. Veseli was personally involved in the process of identifying and targeting opponents, many of whom were ultimately killed. The Trial Panel emphasized in this context that the so-called intelligence information on the basis of which many victims were arrested, detained and killed was nothing more than unverified rumors.”

“The Trial Panel concluded that Rexhep Selimi’s official position as inspector general gave him less power over other KLA members than the other accused. The Panel nevertheless found that, as a member of the General Staff and head of the Operational Directorate and inspector general of the KLA, he failed to ensure that the KLA acted in accordance with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and instead tolerated grave violations of that law. The Panel also found that Mr. Selimi took part in the arrest and detention of 13 parliamentarians and contributed to the implementation of the joint criminal enterprise in various other ways,” the announcement states.

Regarding Jakup Krasniqi’s role, the Specialist Court notes that the Trial Panel found that, as a member of the General Staff and of the Political Directorate, and as spokesman and deputy commander of the KLA, he was a key member in formulating and implementing the policy of targeting opponents.

“In particular, through the publication of communiqués and political statements and other public speeches, as well as orders, Mr. Krasniqi encouraged the commission of crimes against persons considered opponents, including through the KLA’s ‘special warfare.’ In these statements, among other things, responsibility was claimed for the killing of, and ‘punitive measures’ against, ‘collaborators,’ and encouragement and tolerance for crimes were expressed, such as, for example, ‘collaborators are warned that we will kill them if they continue on the wrong path,'” the announcement states.

Atmosphere of witness intimidation

The Trial Panel underlined that the trial was conducted in a continuing atmosphere of witness intimidation.

Several witnesses called by the Prosecution opportunistically withdrew statements given in the past, avoided giving key details from previous testimonies, lied to the Trial Panel, recited pre-learned sentences or changed testimonies they had given earlier.

However, the Trial Panel acknowledged that most witnesses who appeared before the Trial Panel did so with great courage and determination; some witnesses did so despite intimidation and attempts to discourage them from testifying.

Case history

The initial indictment against the four accused was confirmed on October 26, 2020, and amended on September 3, 2021, April 29, 2022, and September 30, 2022. The less-redacted version of the Indictment was submitted on February 27, 2023.

After their arrest by the Specialist Prosecutor, Hashim Thaҫi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi were transferred to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers detention facility in The Hague on November 4 and 5, 2020.

The trial began on April 3, 2023 with the Prosecution’s opening statement. The Prosecution closed its presentation of evidence on April 15, 2025. The Victims’ Counsel, representing 156 participating victims, presented its evidence in July 2025, while Thaҫi’s Defense and Krasniqi’s Defense presented their evidence between September and December 2025.

The Trial Panel closed the evidence presentation procedure on December 19, 2025 and closing statements were presented from February 9 to 18, 2026.

During the trial, the Trial Panel heard evidence from 273 witnesses, both in court and in writing. The Trial Panel admitted 5,467 material exhibits.

The Trial Panel made judicial findings on 1,017 facts examined in other proceedings and on 29 admitted facts. Also, the number of transcript pages in this trial reached 29,238 pages. /Telegrafi/