3 weeks ago
Kosovo Tribunal to Deliver Verdict in Former President Thaci Trial
A special court is about to decide whether former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci committed war crimes.
The accusations relate to the 1998-99 conflict between Kosovo Albanian forces and Serbia.
Prosecutors say more than 100 political opponents and alleged collaborators were killed.
Thaci and three other former commanders deny doing anything wrong.
Their lawyers say there is no proof that Thaci directly connected to the crimes or controlled the other commanders.
Many people in Kosovo see Thaci as a hero and want him released.
The court is unpopular in Kosovo, partly because many witnesses testified privately.
The decision may affect Kosovo’s politics and its relationship with Serbia and Western countries.
Thaci may still not be released immediately because he faces a separate witness-tampering case.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers will announce its verdict in Hashim Thaci’s war crimes trial on Wednesday.
Thaci and three former Kosovo Liberation Army commanders face charges including persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearances.
Prosecutors are seeking 45-year sentences for Thaci and each of the three other commanders.
Thaci and his co-defendants deny the charges, while their lawyers have requested acquittals.
The verdict could affect Kosovo’s internal politics, relations with Serbia and ties with Western allies.
- Who
- Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and three former Kosovo Liberation Army commanders are on trial.
- What
- The Kosovo Specialist Chambers will announce a verdict on charges including persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearances.
- Where
- The verdict will be announced in The Hague; public countdowns and rallies have taken place in Kosovo, including Pristina.
- When
- Wednesday, with the judgment scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in The Hague, or 0800 GMT.
- Why
- The charges concern alleged crimes committed during and shortly after the 1998-99 conflict over Kosovo’s independence from Serbia.
Prosecution's Case
Defense and Supporters' Case
Responsibility for alleged crimes
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutors say more than 100 political opponents and perceived collaborators were killed during a violent KLA political power grab.
Defense and Supporters' Case
Thaci’s lawyers say the accusations are unfounded and that there is no evidence directly linking him to the alleged crimes or proving he controlled other KLA commanders.
Meaning of the tribunal
Prosecution's Case
The prosecution is pursuing accountability for alleged crimes committed during and after the Kosovo conflict.
Defense and Supporters' Case
Many people in Kosovo view Thaci as a hero and freedom fighter, and critics say the tribunal is attempting to rewrite history.
Possible political consequences
Prosecution's Case
A conviction could increase tensions inside Kosovo and affect its relations with Serbia and the West.
Defense and Supporters' Case
An acquittal could strengthen Thaci’s pro-Western opposition party and restore confidence in greater cooperation with Western countries.
Key facts
- Defendant
- Hashim Thaci, Kosovo’s president from 2016 to 2020 and prime minister from 2008 to 2014.
- Other defendants
- Three other senior commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
- Charges
- Persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearances involving Kosovo Albanians and Serbs.
- Prosecution request
- Prosecutors are seeking 45-year sentences for Thaci and each of the three other commanders.
- Defense position
- Thaci and the other defendants deny the charges; Thaci’s lawyers have sought acquittal.
- Court
- The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, staffed by international judges and lawyers and operating under Kosovo law.
- Separate case
- Thaci also faces a separate case involving alleged witness tampering, for which prosecutors have sought a six-year sentence.
Quotes
Mentor Plakaj
A resident of Pristina
“The outcome of the verdict will also have an immediate impact on already strained ethnic relations within Kosovo, as emotions will be high, and radical forces, including external actors, may have an incentive to stir tensions”
theprint.in
“For us, Hashim Thaçi is a hero of Kosovo, a freedom fighter. He should return to Kosovo.”
theprint.in
Sources
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