Editorial status: Awaiting verificationDrafted from the cited sources; not yet fully reviewed by the editors.
Procedural status
From investigation to final decision. Where does the case stand today?
Stage 4 of 6: First instance
- Investigation
- Indictment
- Trial
- First instance
- Appeal
- Final
Stage
Stage 4 of 6: First instance
Not final
A trial chamber's decision. It can be appealed and is not final.
The judgment can be appealed.
Appeal status:The first-instance judgment is not final and may be appealed. No appeal had been recorded on the verification date.
Sentences imposed
4 sentenced · at first instance
01
25 years
' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not final02
Kadri Veseli
18 years
' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not final03
Rexhep Selimi
13 years
' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not final04
Jakup Krasniqi
25 years
' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not final
A judgment concerning individuals is not automatically a judgment against a people, a war, or every member of an organization.
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Outcome for each accused
Convictions(4)
Per the Panel's findings: founding member of the KLA and its General Staff; from June 1998 head of the Political Directorate
Outcome:Conviction
Sentence:25 years' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not finalGuilty of war crimes (Counts 3, 5, 7, 9); not guilty of crimes against humanity (Counts 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10).
Kadri Veseli
Per the Panel's findings: KLA founding member; head of the Intelligence Directorate (May 1998 – March 1999)
Outcome:Conviction
Sentence:18 years' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not finalGuilty of war crimes; not guilty of crimes against humanity.
Rexhep Selimi
Per the Panel's findings: founding member of the General Staff; head of the Operational Directorate (March–August 1998)
Outcome:Conviction
Sentence:13 years' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not finalGuilty of war crimes; not guilty of crimes against humanity.
Jakup Krasniqi
Per the Panel's findings: member of the General Staff; official KLA spokesperson from July 1998
Outcome:Conviction
Sentence:25 years' imprisonment (first-instance judgment)
Not finalGuilty of war crimes; not guilty of crimes against humanity.
Charges and alleged conduct
According to the indictment, the accused, as senior KLA leaders, took part in a joint criminal enterprise targeting persons perceived as opponents of the KLA, involving detention, mistreatment, torture, murder and enforced disappearance in Kosovo and northern Albania, from at least March 1998 to September 1999.
Period covered by the charges:Per the indictment: at least March 1998 – September 1999. Convictions: April 1998 – 20 June 1999.
Charges
- Crimes against humanity: persecution, imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, murder, enforced disappearance — not guilty
- War crimes: illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture, murder — guilty (at first instance)
Findings
According to the official summary of the judgment of 16 September 2026, Trial Panel II found all four guilty, as participants in a joint criminal enterprise, of the arbitrary detention of at least 385 people, the cruel treatment of at least 49, the torture of at least 303 and the murder of 96 people at KLA-controlled sites in Kosovo and northern Albania, from April 1998 to 20 June 1999. The Panel found that the acts of violence amounted to a widespread and systematic attack, but that the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the attack was directed against a civilian population, because victims were selected mainly on individual grounds; all crimes-against-humanity counts therefore failed. Incidents that began after 20 June 1999 could not qualify as war crimes. The Panel also named other persons as members of the enterprise who were not on trial: no finding of guilt was made against them and they remain presumed innocent.
Procedural history
The initial indictment is confirmed.
The indictment is made public; the accused are arrested and transferred to The Hague (4–5 November 2020).
Amended indictment with additional allegations (detention sites in Suharekë, incidents in Gjilan).
The trial opens.
The prosecution closes its case.
Closing statements, 9–18 February 2026.
All four found guilty of war crimes and not guilty of crimes against humanity; Thaçi 25, Krasniqi 25, Veseli 18, Selimi 13 years. Reparations remain pending.
Official documents(opens in a new tab)
Last verified:
Verification note:Verified against the official judgment summary and the KSC press release, both dated 16 September 2026. The public redacted version of the full judgment was not yet available; the full list of sites was not verified.
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