One of the most significant cases linked to the Kosovo war opened this week in The Hague, as the defendant’s office at the Special Court of Kosovo began proceedings. The central figure is Hashim Thaçi, also known as the Snake, a man who has held multiple prominent roles in Kosovo’s history. He has been described by prosecutors as a former guerrilla leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army who later occupied high political offices, including prime minister and president. The prosecution portrays him as someone responsible for war crimes, while Thaçi maintains his innocence.
The list of charges against Thaçi is extensive. The Kosovar politician faces four counts of war crimes and six counts of crimes against humanity. Allegations include torture, cruel treatment, inhuman acts, persecution, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and the killings of numerous civilians during 1998 and 1999. Other defendants from Kosovo share the case, with the trial expected to continue through the year. Among them are Kadri Veseli, the former speaker of the Kosovo Parliament; Jakup Krasniqi, who chaired the National Council of a political party; and Rexhep Selimi, who led the opposition parliamentary group connected to Vetevendosje, the party that has held power in Kosovo in recent years.
Prosecutors have stated that these four men were leaders within the Kosovo Liberation Army at its peak, which helps explain the mixture of reverence and revulsion surrounding their legacies. Thaçi, appearing in a gray suit and blue tie, has consistently denied the charges, asserting his innocence during the proceedings.
The events trace back to the most violent period of the Kosovo conflict, a time marked by the disintegration of Yugoslavia and intense clashes between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. The conflict escalated as UCK attacks against the Serbian army increased, and the NATO bombing campaign aimed at stopping the fighting brought global attention and pressure to end the brutality. Thaçi officially faced charges in 2020, with the final version of the indictment issued in the months leading up to last February.
Civilian casualties
Prosecutors say the crimes occurred across Kosovo and extended into Kukës and Cahan in northern Albania. In the indictment, Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi, and Krasniqi are described as having overseen a widespread and systematic attack aimed at civilians, including those not directly participating in hostilities. The case emphasizes that the violence targeted people suspected of opposing the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Approximately 140 witnesses were called to testify, including family members of victims and individuals who lost loved ones. Many of these witnesses testified under special protection measures for security reasons. Thaçi has awaited trial in a Hague prison since 2020.
Years of trial preparation
This is considered one of the most consequential cases handled by the Special Court of Kosovo, which began its work in 2017 amid discussions and legal debates. Local non-governmental organizations have raised concerns about accountability, and in The Hague, Serbian defendants are not part of the ongoing four-case docket. Notably, the first war crimes sentence issued by the court went to former UCK commander Salih Mustafa in a previous decision.
The first doubts about Thaçi’s conduct also reached the international stage. Former International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia prosecutor Carla Del Ponte expressed questions in her 2008 publication about UN mission activities in Kosovo and the crimes attributed to the UCK. Thaçi has repeatedly denied these allegations, including statements connected to a 2014 interview reported by a regional news group.