Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been sentenced to 25 years by the Hague war crimes tribunal for murder, torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary detention during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been sentenced to 25 years by the Hague war crimes tribunal for murder, torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary detention during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

The court found that KLA members killed at least 96 people and arrested/tortured 385+ - the victims included political rivals and alleged collaborators of various ethnicities.

Three co-defendants, including former parliament speaker Kadri Vesli, were also convicted.

Charges of crimes against humanity have failed. The court failed to establish a systematic attack on civilians.

The plaintiffs asked for 45 years.

The court noted that the goal of Kosovo's independence was not criminal, but the methods used to consolidate power were.

Thaci has been detained in The Hague since 2020; Appeals are expected.

The verdict is highly controversial in Kosovo, where the accused are seen as war heroes.