Kosovo and Albania on Wednesday criticized the war crimes verdict against Hashim Thaci, the former president of Kosovo. This verdict, which includes 25 years in prison for Thaci, was issued by the Kosovo Special Court.
Criticism from Kosovo's Foreign Minister
Glauk Konjufca, Kosovo's Foreign Minister, who was present at the court in The Hague, described the verdict as "unjust" and "unworthy," calling it a "regrettable" decision for Kosovo and its liberation struggle. Konjufca also criticized the basis of the charges and the use of evidence related to Serbia.
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Response from the Prime Minister of Albania
Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, also reacted to the issue on the social network Facebook, condemning the verdict with the word "mara," meaning "shame," and an image of Europe surrounded by barbed wire.
France also stated that it has taken note of the verdict and reaffirmed its support for the Kosovo Special Court and its commitment to fighting impunity. The French Foreign Ministry stated that this verdict is subject to appeal and indicates the end of trials in the first instance, except in cases related to charges against the administration of justice.
The Court's Verdict and the Crimes of the Accused
The Kosovo Special Court found Hashim Thaci guilty of crimes including murder, torture, inhumane treatment, and unlawful detention during the Kosovo War from 1998 to 1999. Other former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi, have also been convicted. Veseli received an 18-year prison sentence, while Selimi and Krasniqi were sentenced to 13 and 25 years in prison, respectively.
All four defendants have not confessed to their crimes and have claimed innocence. Hashim Thaci served as Prime Minister of Kosovo from 2008 to 2014 and as President of the country from 2016 to 2020. He resigned from the presidency in 2020 after the charges were confirmed.
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