Al Jazara
روایت خاورمیانه 
Hashim Thaci, former President of Kosovo, is on the brink of a final verdict in the war crimes court. This court will decide on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, regarding the charges against Thaci and several other commanders related to murder and torture during the Kosovo War for independence from Serbia.
Charges and Reactions
Thaci, 58, faces multiple charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and persecution. He, along with three other commanders from the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), including Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi, and Kadri Veseli, have denied these charges and claim their innocence. Thaci's lawyers stated in his defense in February that there is no evidence directly linking him to these crimes.
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Social and Political Impacts
Thaci's trial in Kosovo is highly controversial. He is recognized as a respected and popular figure among many Albanians in Kosovo due to his role in the 1998-1999 independence war. On Saturday, October 14, tens of thousands gathered in the capital, Pristina, to demand his acquittal and that of other commanders. Large images of the four former KLA fighters were displayed throughout the city, and a digital clock was counting down to the announcement of the verdict.
According to prosecutors, these four individuals attacked political opponents and civilians who were considered collaborators and traitors during their activities in the KLA. Following these charges, prosecutors have requested 45 years of imprisonment for each of these individuals.
The Kosovo War resulted in the deaths of approximately 13,000 people, most of whom were ethnic Albanians. After the war, a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian forces ended the conflict, and about one million ethnic Albanians were displaced from their homes. In 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, a move that Belgrade has refused to accept.
The history of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains tense, and despite years of negotiations under the auspices of the European Union, no significant progress has been made in improving these relations.
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