Thaçi found guilty of war crimes; Acquitted of crimes against humanity; Sentenced to a total of 25 years

Thaçi found guilty, sentenced to 25 years

Thaçi has been found guilty on multiple counts of the indictment charging him with war crimes against civilians, including their mistreatment and killing.

He was acquitted of the charges of crimes against humanity.

He was sentenced to 15 years, 4 years, 20 years and 23 years on the respective counts. The sentences will be served concurrently, with the overall sentence amounting to 25 years in prison, with time already spent in detention credited toward the sentence.

Thaçi personally participated in the commission of crimes

Thaçi made a significant contribution to the implementation of the KLA’s common criminal purpose, played a key role in formulating and carrying out that common criminal purpose, personally participated in the commission of crimes, and supported them, the Panel stated.

“Thaçi was aware of crimes committed against opponents of the KLA, but failed to take any measures to prevent those crimes; he actively participated in and encouraged the commission of crimes,” the Panel concluded.

Panel concludes: Guilty of these charges

The judge read out that the Panel in The Hague had found Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli guilty of war crimes involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of 385 victims, cruel treatment of 49 victims, torture of 303 victims, and the murder of 96 victims.

Conclusion: All four bear criminal responsibility for war crimes involving torture and killings

The Panel concluded that all four KLA members knew about the crimes and acted with intent. For that reason, the Panel found that all four bear criminal responsibility, based on their contributions to a joint criminal enterprise, for war crimes against civilians involving imprisonment, torture and murder.

According to a statement published on the website of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the delivery of the verdict began at 10 a.m. and will continue until noon.

“Selimi played a key role”

“Selimi, as a member of the General Staff and chief inspector of the KLA, played a key role in the formation of the KLA’s operational zones and units; he encouraged the commission of crimes and participated in them,” the Panel stated.

Prosecution unequivocally established crimes against 385 people

The judge read excerpts from the indictment describing the particularly brutal treatment of prisoners, who were neither tried nor given an opportunity to challenge the legality of their detention.

They were left at the mercy of their captors, deliberately arrested without being told the reasons for their detention or being given an opportunity to defend themselves. The prosecution concluded that it had been unequivocally established that the crime of unlawful deprivation of liberty had been committed against at least 385 people.

Judge Smith: “The proceedings concerned the indictment, not the legitimacy of the KLA”

At the beginning of the verdict reading, Judge Charles Smith stated that the proceedings concerned the indictment, not the legitimacy of the KLA.

“Hashim Thaci is the first accused in this case. From March 1998 to September 1999, Thaci was head of the KLA Directorate of Information and commander-in-chief of the KLA.

Kadri Veseli, the second accused in this case, is a Kosovan national. Mr. Veseli was one of the founders of the KLA and its General Staff. He was a member of the KLA Directorate for Political Affairs and head of its intelligence service. He was also head of Kosovo’s intelligence service, known as ShIK.

Rexhep Selimi, the third accused, is a Kosovan national, born in the municipality of Srbica in Kosovo. The prosecution alleges that Selimi was a member of the KLA General Staff and head of its Operations Directorate.

Jakup Krasniqi, the fourth accused, is a Kosovan national. The prosecution alleges that he was a member of the KLA General Staff and a member of the KLA Directorate for Political Affairs, as well as the KLA’s chief spokesperson and spokesperson for the provisional government of Kosovo,” Judge Smith said.

Judge Smith went on to state that the prosecution charged all four defendants with six counts of crimes against humanity—namely persecution, imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, murder and enforced disappearance of persons.

“The prosecution alleges that all the acts attributed to the accused formed part of a systematic attack and a widespread attack. The prosecution alleges that the accused were aware of that attack.

The prosecution charges the accused with four counts of war crimes: unlawful or arbitrary arrest or deprivation of liberty, cruel treatment, torture and murder.

According to the prosecution, all the acts were committed in the context of the KLA and the forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The prosecution alleges that the crimes were committed at KLA bases or headquarters.

The accused were aware that the victims were persons who were not actively participating in the fighting. The accused bear individual responsibility.

All four accused pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.”

Panel: Witnesses were intimidated throughout the proceedings

The presiding judge stated that the trial was conducted amid continued witness intimidation, specifying exactly how many witnesses had withdrawn their testimony.

There was an atmosphere of intimidation, which led to protective measures being put in place for witnesses. The panel will not disclose the names of their family members either.

It was also stated that a conviction would be highly significant for all those witnesses who had the courage to testify.

Reading of the Indictment

The presiding judge read out the prosecution’s indictment against all four defendants, point by point, and also provided a summary of the trial, from the moment it began through the course of the proceedings.

The judge also read out the number of witnesses, transcripts and established facts presented during the trial.

Courtroom packed

The defendants are in the courtroom, along with members of their families, Glauk Konjufca, foreign minister of the provisional institutions, Andin Hoti, minister for family affairs of the provisional institutions, Hisni Gucati, president of the association of former members of the so-called KLA, and members of the Democratic Party of Kosovo.

The delivery of the verdict is expected to last two hours, from 10 a.m. to noon.

A large number of media crews are covering the proceedings.