Hashim Thaci protests spread after war crimes sentence

Thousands of people rallied across Kosovo late Friday against the war crimes sentence given to former president Hashim Thaci and several close associates over the 1990s conflict with Serbia.

Former guerrilla fighters called protests in nine cities, expanding demonstrations beyond Pristina, where rallies have been held nightly since Thaci was sentenced to 25 years. Demonstrators chanted support for the Kosovo Liberation Army, wore military fatigues and waved KLA flags.

The Netherlands-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers found Thaci and three other former KLA leaders criminally responsible for murders, illegal arrests, torture and cruel treatment committed by KLA fighters during the conflict.

Thaci was sentenced alongside former senior guerrilla figures Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. Krasniqi received 25 years, Veseli 18 years and Selimi 13 years. All four said they would appeal.

Many in Kosovo see the verdict as unjust and say the KLA fought Serbian oppression. Protesters accuse the court, which was established under Kosovo law but is based in The Hague, of political bias and criticise its use of evidence supplied by Serbia, which does not recognise Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti condemned the ruling as "unacceptable" and pledged support for the convicted men through the appeals process. Thaci resigned as president and surrendered to the court after his 2020 indictment, and has remained in detention in The Hague.