Thaci Faces Verdict in Kosovo War Crimes Trial

A special tribunal in The Hague will deliver its verdict on Wednesday in the trial of former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci and three other former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. The prosecution is seeking 45 years in prison for each of them for persecution, murder, torture and enforced disappearances during the conflict with Serbia and shortly thereafter, from 1998 to 1999.

Prosecutors allege that during the Kosovo Liberation Army’s violent struggle for political power, they killed more than 100 political opponents and people considered collaborators with Serbian security forces.

The defendants deny the charges, and their defense attorneys are seeking their acquittal. Thaci’s lawyers argue that the charges are unfounded and that there is no evidence directly linking him to the alleged crimes.

The trial has sparked strong emotions in Kosovo. On Saturday, thousands of people demonstrated in Pristina calling for the release of the four, and large-screen displays were set up in several cities to broadcast the verdict. The tribunal is highly unpopular in Kosovo, and many there view Thaci as a hero of the struggle for independence.

Analysts warn that the outcome of the trial could affect Kosovo’s relations with the West and increase tensions with Serbia. Analyst Agon Maliqi described the verdict as a “tectonic event”.

Even an acquittal on the war crimes charges would likely not lead to Thaci’s immediate release. In a separate trial for allegedly influencing witnesses, the prosecution is seeking a six-year prison sentence for him. He denies these charges as well.

(Reuters, max)