3 weeks ago
Kosovo’s Hashim Thaci Faces Verdict in War Crimes Case
Hashim Thaci was an important fighter and politician in Kosovo.
In the 1990s, he helped the Kosovo Liberation Army fight Serbian forces.
He later became Kosovo’s prime minister and president.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with Thaci proclaiming it.
A special court was created to investigate alleged crimes by KLA members.
Prosecutors accuse Thaci of serious war crimes, including responsibility for civilian killings.
Thaci says he did nothing wrong.
He resigned as president in 2020 and was sent to a detention center in The Hague.
The court is expected to announce its verdict on Wednesday, September 14.
Hashim Thaci is scheduled to hear a war crimes verdict over his alleged role in Kosovo’s 1990s conflict.
Thaci became a senior Kosovo Liberation Army commander and was nicknamed “The Snake” for evading Serbian forces.
He helped lead Kosovo’s delegation at the 1999 Rambouillet peace talks before NATO’s bombing campaign against Serbia.
Thaci later founded the Democratic Party of Kosovo, served as prime minister, and proclaimed independence in 2008.
He became president in 2016, resigned in 2020 after an indictment, and denies allegations of wrongdoing.
- Who
- Former Kosovo President and Kosovo Liberation Army commander Hashim Thaci.
- What
- He is scheduled to hear a verdict on war crimes charges linked to Kosovo’s 1990s conflict.
- Where
- The case is being handled by a special tribunal in The Hague.
- When
- Wednesday, September 14; the indictment was issued in November 2020.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege that Thaci was involved in crimes including the killing of civilians; he denies wrongdoing.
War Crimes Allegations
Thaci’s Denial
Responsibility for civilian killings
War Crimes Allegations
The war crimes case includes allegations that Thaci oversaw the killing of civilians during the conflict.
Thaci’s Denial
Thaci denies wrongdoing.
Alleged organized crime and organ trafficking
War Crimes Allegations
A 2010 Council of Europe report accused Thaci of involvement in an organized crime ring linked to killings and organ trafficking involving murdered Serbs.
Thaci’s Denial
Thaci denied the accusations, and prosecutors never brought a case over the alleged organ trafficking.
Public reputation
War Crimes Allegations
The tribunal’s indictment reflects allegations under investigation by a court created to examine possible crimes by KLA members.
Thaci’s Denial
Thaci continues to be idolized by many Kosovars, with images describing him and others facing charges as “Heroes of War and Peace.”
Key facts
- Born
- April 24, 1968
- Military role
- Senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army, which launched its guerrilla war in 1997
- Political party
- Founded the Democratic Party of Kosovo after the war
- Prime minister
- Became prime minister after the Democratic Party of Kosovo won the November 2007 parliamentary election
- Independence declaration
- Proclaimed Kosovo’s independence from Serbia in February 2008
- Presidency
- Elected president in February 2016 and took office the following April
- Tribunal case
- Indicted in November 2020 and transferred to the tribunal’s detention center in The Hague
Sources
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