The Kosovo war crimes tribunal has convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci of four counts of war crimes committed during his country’s war for independence from Serbia.

Thaci, 58, was sentenced on Wednesday to 25 years in prison for ‌crimes including murder, torture and illegal detention committed as top commander of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the ⁠territory’s violent break ⁠from Serbia in the 1990s.

The tribunal said he was ⁠guilty of the murder ⁠of 96 political ⁠opponents and perceived collaborators with Serbian security forces by KLA forces during the conflict.

Thaci denies all the charges.

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

Three former KLA senior commanders were also sentenced for several different charges.

Jakup Krasniqi was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli was given 18 years, including the time he spent in custody, and Rexhep Selimi was sentenced to 13 years, including the time spent in custody.

Before reading the sentences, Judge Charles Smith  referenced the severe torture and killings conducted by the KLA.

“No flag is big enough to hide the shame of killing innocent people,” he said, citing a quote by Professor Howard Zinn.

The trial has been widely controversial within Kosovo as many Kosovan Albanians see the KLA and Thaci as revered figures because of their role in the 1998-99 independence war from Serbia.

In Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, thousands of people watched the reading of the verdict live on a huge screen and were stunned at the sentence. Some started shouting slogans in support of the KLA and Thaci.

More to come…