A Hague court convicts Kosovo’s former President Thaci of war crimes and sentences him to 25 years

A European Union-backed court on Wednesday convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci of four counts of war crimes committed during his country’s war for independence from Serbia and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

Thaci, who is 58, resigned from office nearly six years ago to face the charges. He was convicted by a panel of judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. He can appeal.

The judgment was a crushing blow for a man once embraced by Western leaders, who had invited him to the 1999 peace talks in France, and who was seen as a leader who could guide the country toward independence.

Wearing a suit and tie, Thaci stood in silence as Presiding Judge Charles Smith read out the sentence.

There was no immediate reaction from Thaci’s supporters who packed the court’s public gallery. Hundreds more supporters were waiting outside the courthouse in The Hague.

Read more: AP