The four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have been sentenced to a combined 81 years in prison by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, following the conclusion of the first-instance judgment in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years in prison, former Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years.
The Trial Panel found them criminally responsible for war crimes, including unlawful killings, torture, cruel treatment and unlawful or arbitrary detention. In Thaçi’s case, the Specialist Chambers confirmed his conviction on four counts of war crimes: murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention.
Charges of Crimes Against Humanity Not Proven
In the same judgment, the Trial Panel found that the charges of crimes against humanity against the four accused had not been proven.
During the delivery of the judgment, the court found that the Prosecution had failed to establish the existence of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, a key element in determining responsibility for crimes against humanity.
The indictment against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi contained six counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes. The proceedings concerned events between March 1998 and September 1999 in several areas of Kosovo, as well as in Kukës and Cahan in northern Albania.
First-Instance Judgment
The judgment was delivered on September 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The hearing was public and was broadcast in Albanian, English and Serbian.
All four accused had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office had asked the court to impose a sentence of 45 years in prison on each of them, for a combined total of 180 years. This was the Prosecution’s sentencing request, not a decision by the court.
The judgment delivered today is a first-instance ruling. The parties have the right to appeal the decision in accordance with the procedures of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
Trial Lasted More Than Three Years
The trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi began on April 3, 2023. The Prosecution completed the presentation of its evidence on April 15, 2025, while the evidentiary proceedings closed on December 18, 2025. Closing statements were delivered from February 9 to 18, 2026.
According to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, 134 witnesses testified in the courtroom during the proceedings: 125 called by the Prosecution, two by Victims’ Counsel and seven by the Defence teams. A total of 156 victims participated in the proceedings.
Attention Focused on The Hague and Pristina
The delivery of the judgment was closely followed in both The Hague and Pristina. Supporters of the former KLA leaders gathered outside the headquarters of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague and in the Kosovo capital, while gatherings were organized in Pristina, where the delivery of the judgment was followed publicly.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers had previously announced that, due to the high level of interest, space for the public in the courtroom was limited and physical attendance required prior registration.
Today’s judgment marks the conclusion of the first stage of the proceedings against the four former KLA leaders, but not necessarily the final conclusion of the case, as the ruling can be challenged through the appeals process.
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