Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaçi was handed a 25-year prison term by the International Criminal Court on Wednesday for war crimes committed during the 1998-99 conflict.

Protests erupt across the capital

Within hours of the verdict, thousands gathered in Pristina's central square, chanting slogans in support of Thaçi and confronting police lines. Demonstrators threw stones and set fire to a police vehicle, prompting officers to deploy tear‑gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Police reported dozens of injuries among officers and civilians, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed. The unrest spread to nearby neighbourhoods, with several roads blocked and public transport temporarily suspended.

ICC verdict details

The tribunal found Thaçi guilty of ordering, planning and supervising murders, enforced disappearances and persecution of civilians in the final months of the Kosovo war. The court, which has been monitoring alleged crimes in the Balkans for more than a decade, sentenced him to the maximum term allowed under its statutes.

According to the ICC spokesperson, the judgment marks "a decisive step toward accountability for the most serious violations of international humanitarian law".

Political fallout

Prime Minister Albin Kurti condemned the sentence as "a blow to Kosovo's sovereignty" and called for a national dialogue on the country's future. Opposition parties, however, warned that the verdict could deepen societal divisions and fuel nationalist sentiment.

International reactions were swift. The European Union's foreign policy chief urged Kosovo's authorities to "respect the rule of law while ensuring public order", while the United States praised the court's independence but cautioned against any escalation of unrest.

Historical context

Thaçi, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, served as prime minister from 2008 to 2014 and as president from 2016 until his resignation in 2020 after the ICC indictment. He had previously denied wrongdoing, arguing that the KLA's actions were part of a legitimate struggle for independence.

The conviction is the first time a former head of state from the Balkans has been imprisoned for war crimes by an international tribunal. It follows the 2019 conviction of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžiči, who received a 40-year sentence for genocide, but unlike that case, Thaçi's verdict has ignited immediate street unrest.

Next steps

Thaçi is expected to be transferred to a European prison later this week, pending appeals that could extend to the ICC's Appeals Chamber. Meanwhile, Kosovo's interior ministry announced a curfew in the capital from midnight to 5 a.m. to curb further clashes.

Human rights groups warned that any heavy‑handed response could exacerbate tensions, urging authorities to protect journalists and protesters alike. The situation remains fluid, with the next parliamentary session slated for next Tuesday to address the security implications of the verdict.