War crimes tribunal to announce verdict in trial of former Kosovo president Thaci
Prosecutors are seeking 45-year sentences for Thaci and three co-defendants, while defence lawyers deny command responsibility and seek acquittals.
- On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague will deliver its verdict in the war crimes trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three ex-KLA commanders.
- Prosecutors seeking 45-year prison sentences allege the four defendants held senior leadership roles with command responsibility for crimes including murder and torture during the 1998-99 conflict; the defense denies all charges, citing a lack of formal hierarchy.
- Supporters rallied in Pristina on September 12, 2026, displaying photos of the defendants with the inscription "Heroes of War and Peace." The court and Dutch police implemented special security measures ahead of the verdict due to announced potential protests.
- Agon Maliqi, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, described the verdict as a "tectonic event" that could impact strained ethnic relations within Kosovo as emotions run high.
- The judgment represents a first-instance ruling, meaning both prosecution and defense retain the right to appeal. Legal proceedings could continue, potentially extending political uncertainty for Kosovo and delaying finality for victims and the accused.
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75 Articles
The special court in The Hague will pronounce its verdict on former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, accused of war crimes. Pristina is calling for the acquittal of the four, while Belgrade is emphasizing their alleged responsibility for crimes against Serbs and doubts that this will be covered in the verdict. Thaci said before the verdict was pronounced that he expects an acquittal on a…
Kosovo's war crimes court on Wednesday will deliver its verdict in the case of former President Hashim Thaci and several war commanders accused of murder and torture during the territory's violent separation from Serbia in the 1990s. Dozens of Thaci supporters [...] Announcement Former Kosovo President Thaci is awaiting sentencing. His trial for war crimes appeared first on the New Gazette.
El Mundo
INTELLINEWSProsecutors of the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo in The Hague have requested a maximum sentence of 45 years' imprisonment for the former president and former prime minister, and for three of his co-religionaries.
For him and three other commanders, the Specialised Chambers of The Hague have asked for 45 years in prison each. Protests to Pristina: "We will not accept unjust verdicts."
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