Kosovo war crimes court begins trial of ex-guerrilla chief and president Thaci

FILE PHOTO: People walk near a banner displaying former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, in Pristina, Kosovo, March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Laura Hasani

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci stands trial at a special court in The Hague on Monday for alleged war crimes during the 1998-99 insurgency that eventually brought independence from Serbia and made him a hero among compatriots.

Thaci was indicted in 2020 by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers on 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity including persecution, murder, torture and forced disappearance of people, including after fighting ended.