Hashim Thaçi sentenced to 25 years in prison for war crimes

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on September 16 sentenced former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison on four counts of war crimes, including murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. The verdict cites 96 murders.

Jakup Krasniqi was sentenced to 25 years, Kadri Veseli to 18 and Rexhep Selimi to 13. All four were acquitted on six counts of crimes against humanity. Prosecutors had sought 45 years each. Thaçi, as throughout the trial, denied the charges.

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Presiding Judge Charles Smith said Thaçi "used his position, leadership, authority and standing" to encourage the crimes, but that the trial was "not about the legitimacy" of the KLA. Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca called the verdict "terrible", and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama posted the word "Shame". Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić called it a "warning" to Pristina.