The Trial Panel today pronounced its judgment in the case of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The Trial Panel found that all four Accused were criminally responsible for the war crimes of arbitrary detention against 385 individuals, cruel treatment against 49 individuals, torture against 303 individuals, and murder against 96 individuals.
The Trial Panel found the accused not guilty of crimes against humanity because the Specialist Prosecutor failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population. The accused were also found not guilty in connection with a number of specific incidents of war crimes.
The Trial Panel sentenced Hashim Thaçi to 25 years of imprisonment, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison, with credit for time already served.
The judges found that during the Kosovo conflict Mr. Thaçi, Mr. Veseli, Mr. Selimi and Mr. Krasniqi contributed significantly to the common criminal purpose of targeting perceived opponents of the Kosovo Liberation Army’s political and military goals, including Kosovo Albanians associated with other political or military forces, like the LDK and FARK; individuals alleged to be associated with the FRY/Serbian authorities; and certain members of ethnic minorities, including a number of Roma and Serbs.
The targeting of such opponents took the form of killings; arrests and detention without due process; physical and psychological mistreatment; as well as other forms of abuse, intimidation and harassment. With limited exceptions, the Trial Panel found no evidence that any of the victims had engaged in any criminal activity, taken an active part in hostilities or presented any other legitimate security concern for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The vast majority of them were innocent civilians who were caught in the implementation of a common criminal purpose in which they were described, often falsely and generally without basis, as collaborators or spies. Many victims recounted the lasting psychological and physical consequences of their ordeal.
When determining the sentences, the Trial Panel thoroughly assessed the relevant facts, the gravity of the crimes, the nature and extent of each Accused’s individual involvement, as well as mitigating and aggravating circumstances. The Panel also considered that some victims were particularly vulnerable, for example due to their age or because they had to witness the mistreatment or killing of their family members.
During the hearing, the Presiding Judge emphasised the trial was not about the legitimacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army and its goal of an independent Kosovo, but about the use of certain criminal means by some of its members to achieve these goals. The Judge further explained that the trial did not deal with the crimes Serbian forces and paramilitaries undoubtedly committed against Kosovo-Albanians. Instead, it was exclusively concerned with whether crimes alleged in the indictment were committed and whether the accused could be held criminally responsible for them.
The individual roles of the accused
In the case of Hashim Thaçi, the Trial Panel found that as a member of the General Staff of the KLA and in his capacity as the head of the Political Directorate, he was a key member in formulating and implementing the common purpose that entailed setting up detention facilities; identifying individuals perceived as opposing the KLA; arresting and detaining them; and, if necessary, killing them.
This included the targeting of alleged “collaborators”, the setting up of a structure, competent bodies and regulations to do so, and the deployment of “special warfare” against Opponents, including through the publication of communiques and political declarations and other public statements expressing tolerance and encouragement for the commission of crimes against opponents.
The Trial Panel further found that Hashim Thaçi also personally participated in crimes, including the arrest, arbitrary detention and interrogation of 13 parliamentarians and the arrest, detention, transfer and murder of Behajdin Allaqi. He further disseminated false information about detainees and victims of the crimes committed by KLA members, gave false assurances of compliance with international humanitarian law on behalf of the KLA, and contributed to a policy of impunity in respect of perpetrators of crimes against opponents.
Concerning Kadri Veseli, the Trial Panel found that as the head of the Intelligence Directorate, his primary responsibilities included identifying, obtaining information about, monitoring and neutralising persons suspected of being “collaborators”.
The Trial Panel also found that Mr. Veseli was personally involved in the process of identifying and targeting opponents, many of whom were eventually murdered. The Trial Panel noted in this context that the so-called intelligence on which many of the victims were arrested, detained and killed was little more than unverified rumours.
The Trial Panel determined that Rexhep Selimi’s official position as inspector general of the KLA gave him less authority over other members of the KLA than the other Accused had. The Panel found, however, that, as a member of the General Staff and in his capacities as the head of the Operational Directorate and the KLA inspector general, he failed to ensure that the KLA operated in compliance with its obligations under international humanitarian law and, instead, tolerated serious violations of that law. The Panel further found that Mr. Selimi participated in the arrest and detention of 13 parliamentarians and contributed to the implementation of the joint criminal enterprise in a variety of other ways.
In regard to Jakup Krasniqi’s role, the Trial Panel found that as a member of the General Staff and the Political Directorate, as spokesperson and as deputy commander of the KLA, he was a key member in formulating and implementing the policy to target opponents. In particular, through the publication of communiques and political statements and other public speeches, as well as orders, Mr Krasniqi encouraged the commission of crimes against individuals perceived as opponents, including through the KLA’s “special warfare”. These statements, amongst other things, took responsibility for assassinations and “punitive measures” against “collaborators” and encouraged and expressed tolerance of crimes, such as “[c]ollaborators are warned that we will kill them if they continue to follow the wrong path.”
Climate of witness intimidation
The Trial Panel highlighted that the trial was conducted against the backdrop of a persistent climate of witness intimidation. Several witnesses called by the Prosecution opportunistically recanted past statements, evaded basic details from prior accounts, lied to the Panel, recited a learned set of lines or otherwise changed their previous account.
However, the Trial Panel acknowledged that nonetheless, most witnesses who appeared before the Panel did so with great courage and determination; several witnesses did so in the face of intimidation and attempts to discourage them from testifying.
Case history
The initial indictment against the four accused was confirmed on 26 October 2020, and amended on 3 September 2021, 29 April 2022, and 30 September 2022. A lesser redacted version of the indictment was filed on 27 February 2023.
Following their arrest by the Specialist Prosecutor, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi were transferred to the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague on 4 and 5 November 2020.
The trial started on 3 April 2023 with the Opening Statement of the Prosecution. The Prosecution closed their case on 15 April 2025. Victims’ Counsel, representing the 156 participating victims, presented their case in July 2025 and the Thaçi and Krasniqi Defence presented their cases between September and December 2025. The Trial Panel closed the evidentiary proceedings on 19 December 2025 and closing statements were held from 9-18 February 2026.
During the trial, the Trial Panel received the evidence of 273 witnesses, both in court and in writing. The Panel admitted 5,467 exhibits into evidence. The Panel took judicial notice of 1,017 adjudicated facts and 29 agreed facts. Further, the transcript of proceedings reached 29,238 pages in length.
A more detailed summary of the Trial Judgment can be found on the KSC website.