The Hague court has convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci of four counts of war crimes committed during the 1998–99 Kosovo War, sentencing him to 25 years in prison. The verdict, delivered by a three-judge panel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, found Thaci and three other former KLA leaders guilty of crimes against civilians and political opponents. The charges of crimes against humanity were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Thousands of Kosovo citizens gathered in Pristina and other cities to watch the verdict live, many waving KLA flags. The crowd fell silent when the guilty verdict was announced, followed by calls for justice and support for the four men. Police and special units intervened to prevent damage to the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, which has been operating since 2008.

Kosovo's political leaders expressed deep disappointment. Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca called the verdict a 'terrible judgment for Kosovo, for our liberation war,' while Prime Minister Albin Kurti described it as 'an unacceptable injustice.' The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), founded by Thaci and other former KLA leaders, called the judgment 'unjust and unacceptable,' accusing Serbian authorities of promoting fabricated evidence.

The four men, including Thaci, denied all charges and plan to appeal the verdict. Thaci, who resigned as president in 2020 to face the charges, was sentenced to 25 years, while Kadri Veseli received 18 years, Rexhep Selimi 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi 25 years. The court found them guilty of arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture, and murder of civilians and political opponents.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, established by Kosovo's parliament in 2015, is staffed by international judges and focuses exclusively on KLA-related crimes. Thaci, who was once supported by Western leaders, including participation in the 1999 Rambouillet peace talks, is now facing the consequences of his actions. The court ruled that Thaci actively encouraged crimes and failed to investigate or punish abuse by KLA fighters.

The verdict has intensified tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, which remain in a state of unresolved conflict. Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008, is not recognized by Belgrade, Moscow, and Beijing, but is supported by over 100 countries. Relations between the two nations have been mediated by the EU and supported by the United States, but the recent ruling has added to the complexity of their ongoing negotiations.

What remains unknown is the full extent of the evidence used to convict Thaci and the other leaders, as well as the potential impact of the verdict on Kosovo's political stability and its relationship with Serbia and the international community. The appeal process will determine whether the convictions stand or are overturned.