Kosovo ex-president Thaçi convicted of war crimes, protests at EU mission

Thousands of people gathered in Prishtina on Tuesday anticipating an acquittal, only to disperse in silence after the Kosovo Specialist Chambers sentenced the former president to prison for murder, torture and illegal detention. The verdict, delivered by the court in The Hague‑based facility, marked the first conviction of a former head of state by the tribunal established to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during and after the 1998‑99 conflict.

Following the announcement, a segment of the crowd moved toward the European Union mission’s headquarters, where they confronted riot police in a brief clash that resulted in several arrests and the deployment of additional security forces. Authorities reported that the disturbances remained localized and that the situation was brought under control without further incident. The ruling is expected to shape Kosovo’s political landscape and may prompt appeals by the former president’s legal team.