Hashim Thaci, a central figure in the modern political history of Kosovo, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Wednesday. He was tried for war crimes, including murder, torture, and unlawful detention during the Kosovo War that took place from 1998 to 1999.
Historic ruling by the Kosovo Special Court
This ruling was issued by the Kosovo Special Court in The Hague and is considered a turning point in Thaci's political life. Thaci, who is 58 years old, has denied all charges throughout the process and stated in his final remarks in court that he is "completely innocent."
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Thaci was born on April 24, 1968, in the Drenica region of Kosovo and began his studies in history and philosophy at the University of Pristina. He also continued his education in Switzerland and became involved in the political activities of the Albanian-speaking community in Kosovo.
Role in the war and Kosovo's independence
During the Kosovo War, Thaci became one of the prominent representatives of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). This war resulted in the deaths of thousands, primarily of Albanian ethnicity, and the displacement of over a million people. In 1999, he participated as Kosovo's representative in the peace negotiations in Rambouillet, France.
These negotiations did not lead to an agreement, and NATO later launched a 78-day air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yugoslav and Serbian forces left Kosovo in June 1999, and the region came under UN administration.
After the war, Thaci was recognized as one of the founders of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), which became one of the main political parties in Kosovo. The Democratic Party of Kosovo won a majority in the 2007 parliamentary elections, and Thaci was appointed Prime Minister in January 2008.
On February 17, 2008, during Thaci's premiership, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. This independence has been recognized by Turkey, the United States, and most EU countries, although Serbia, Russia, and China have not accepted it.
Thaci served as Prime Minister until 2014 and then held the positions of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. In 2016, the Kosovo Parliament elected him as President, and he was officially appointed to this position in April of that year.
Thaci resigned from his position in November 2020 after an indictment against him was confirmed by the Kosovo Special Court. This court, located in The Hague, was established under Kosovo law and with the approval of constitutional amendments by the Kosovo Parliament in 2015.
During his trial, Thaci was alongside other senior KLA figures, including Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi. The court found him guilty of war crimes including murder, torture, and unlawful detention and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
This case relates to crimes against humanity and war crimes during the Kosovo War and includes charges such as persecution, imprisonment, torture, and murder. The prosecution in this case had sought a 45-year prison sentence for Thaci.
Thaci's trial, while he has continuously denied the charges, highlights the significance of this case in Kosovo's political history. He is currently separately facing charges such as obstructing official processes and attempting to influence witnesses during his detention.
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