Kosovo's Former President Thaçi Gets 25 Years for War Crimes
A European Union court in The Hague convicted former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi of war crimes. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Thaçi was found guilty on four counts of war crimes. The crimes happened during Kosovo's war for independence from Serbia.
That war took place in the late 1990s. The crimes included illegal arrests and torture.
He was also convicted of dozens of murders. Thaçi was a senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the war.
He denied all charges during his trial. Three other former Kosovo Liberation Army figures were also found guilty.
They are Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. They were sentenced alongside Thaçi. Prosecutors had asked for a maximum 45-year sentence for all four men.
Klear Note — War crimes are serious violations of rules protecting people during armed conflict. The Hague is a Dutch city known for international courts.
Key Terms 2
- The Hague A city in the Netherlands that hosts international courts.
- Kosovo Liberation Army A group that fought for Kosovo's independence from Serbia in the 1990s.