Kosovo ex-president Hashim Thaci sentenced to 25 years in Hague war crimes trial

Kosovo former president Hashim Thaci was found guilty during Hague war crimes trial and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Thaci was convicted by the Hague court of four counts of war crimes including murder, torture and illegal detention during the country’s war of independence from Serbia.

The 58-year-old resigned from office nearly 6 years ago. As a top commander of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army during the chaotic secession from Serbia, Thaci committed harrowing crimes. As per tribunal, he was guilty of murdering 96 political opponents.

According to presiding judge Charles Smith, "The plan was as simple as it was harmful. In particular, it entailed: setting up detention facilities in all areas controlled by the KLA; identifying individuals ​perceived as opposing the KLA; and arresting and detaining them and, if necessary, killing them,"

Furthermore, the court found him guilty of illegally detaining 385 individuals, torturing 303, and subjecting 49 others to cruel treatment, none of whom were participating in hostilities.

The judges stated that Thaci played an active role in encouraging these offenses as part of a joint criminal enterprise carrying out a common plan.

However, Thaci denied all these charges and he can appeal the verdict.