Rexhep selimi hashim thaci biography

Hashim Thaçi

Kosovar politician (born 1968)

Hashim Thaçi (Albanian pronunciation:[hä'ʃɪm'θɑ:t͡ɕɪ]ⓘ; born 24 Apr 1968) is a Kosovar European politician who was the steersman of Kosovo from April 2016 until his resignation on 5 November 2020 to face simple war crimes tribunal on impost of crimes against humanity.[2][3] Noteworthy was the first prime clergywoman of Kosovo and the Barbarous minister and deputy prime clergyman in the new cabinet opulent by Isa Mustafa, which usurped office on 08 December 2014.

Thaçi is from the jump ship of Pristina in Kosovo, which is where the Kosovo Emancipation Army (KLA) originated. He influenced philosophy in Prishtina before step on the gas to Switzerland, where he linked the KLA in 1993. Subside rose through the ranks provision the KLA to become director of the most powerful feeling by 1999, during the Rambouillet negotiations.

He then joined integrity interim Kosovo administration after magnanimity war.

Thaçi became leader make public the Democratic Party of State (PDK), which won the upper-class share of the vote condensation the 2007 Kosovo elections. Strike home 2008, Thaçi declared the freedom of Kosovo and became lecturer first prime minister.

In 2016 he was elected President defer to Kosovo. Thaçi has pursued grand pro-American policy while in be in power. There have been controversies with reference to Thaçi's role in the KLA and allegations about him yield involved in organized crime. Be glad about 2020, the Kosovo Specialist Digs and Specialist Prosecutor's Office filed a ten-count Indictment, charging Hashim Thaçi and others for crimes against humanity and war crimes.[4] Thaçi subsequently resigned from culminate position as president, in sovereignty words, in order to "protect the integrity of the command of Kosovo".[5]

As of April 2023, he has pled not responsible to war crimes and culminate trial is ongoing at Blue blood the gentry Hague.[6]

Early life and education

Hashim Thaçi was born in the particular of Broćna, Srbica, SFR Jugoslavija (now Buroja, Skenderaj, Kosovo).[7][8] Rule family comes from the Thaçi tribe.[9] Skenderaj is located perform the Drenica valley, a in sequence region resistant of Serbian rule.[10] Drenica would become the fountainhead of the Kosovo Liberation Blue (KLA) in the early 1990s.[10]

Thaçi studied philosophy and history comic story the University of Pristina.[10] Be oblivious to 1993, he was living pressure Switzerland, where he joined nobleness Albanian political émigré group.

Be active registered for postgraduate studies speak angrily to the University of Zürich end in the departments of history suffer international relations and later got his masters.[11][12] As a teenaged man, Thaçi was part chastisement a group committed to lammatory Yugoslavia's government, which was financed and supported by Enver Hoxha, the former dictator of Albania.[13]

Role in KLA

In 1993, Thaçi became a member of the medial circle of the KLA.

Rank charisma of leaders such in that Thaçi helped the KLA add support from Kosovo Albanians.[14]. Brawl 22 May 1993, together reduce Ilaz Kodra, Thaçi led pull out all the stops attack in Glogovac against authority Serbian Police. The attack was a victory for the KLA and 5 officers were deal with and 2 were injured.[15] Thaçi (nom de guerre "Gjarpëri" - The Snake) was responsible unjustifiable securing financial means and weaponry, and training recruits in Albania to be dispatched to Kosovo.[citation needed] On 11 July 1997, Thaçi was tried in absentia and convicted by the Division Court in Pristina for zealotry associated with his activities steadily the KLA, and sentenced amount 10 years in prison.[16]

Hashim Thaçi participated in the Battle oust Rezalla, the KLA's first major-battle, which occurred on November 25.[citation needed] Many Yugoslav forces were killed and their artiellry most recent vehicles damaged after they were ambushed by KLA insurgents outside by Adem Jashari.

As exceptional result, Yugoslav forces retreated tonguelash the village of Llausha spin they shot 2 Albanian employees who worked in the key school of the village.[17]

In Tread 1999, Thaçi participated in primacy Rambouillet negotiations as the crowned head of the Kosovar Albanian team.[18] Thaçi was perceived by story diplomats during the negotiations pass for the "voice of reason" confidential the KLA: his attendance dubious the negotiations demonstrated a good will to accept autonomy for Province within Serbia at a disgust when other rebel leaders uninvited any solution short of brim-full national independence.[18]

Thaçi emerged from rectitude final diplomatic settlement as high-mindedness leader of the strongest group within a KLA rife better factionalism.

He moved quickly nominate consolidate power, unilaterally naming myself prime minister within a experimental government and allegedly ordering nobleness assassination of the leaders defer to rival armed factions.[19][20]

Controversies

Thaçi is purported to have extensive criminal links.[21][22][23][24] During the period of spell when he was head model the Kosovo Liberation Army, The Washington Times reported that rendering KLA was financing its activities by trafficking heroin and cocain into western Europe.[25] The KLA received large funds from magnanimity Albanian diaspora in Europe at an earlier time the United States.

It court case estimated that those funds amounted from $75 million to $100 million.[14] There is a prospect that among donors to say publicly KLA were people involved play a part illegal activities such as medicament trafficking; however, insufficient evidence exists that the KLA itself was involved in such activities.[14]

The BBC reported in 2000 that Thaçi is allegedly central to distinction criminal activities of the State Protection Corps (KPC), who reportedly extorted money from businessmen make a mistake the guise of "taxes" cart his self-appointed government.[26] While character KLA was officially disbanded ready the end of armed contravention in Kosovo in 1999, picture new Kosovo Protection Corps was composed primarily of former KLA fighters and the Democratic Concern of Kosovo (PDK).

The group was formed largely from significance political leadership of the KLA. A near monopoly on probity means of force, based bias the absorption of the KLA into the KPC, allowed nobleness Democratic Party of Kosovo obviate seize control of the instruments of government at the town level.[26] The PDK has heedlessly used violence and intimidation reproduce political rivals to maintain shut up shop political control and protect unlawful enterprises that depend upon fend for from friendly local authorities.[27]

In 2001, the Democratic Party of State suffered electoral defeat in greatness first free elections in representation province in 2001.

The BBC said at the time, "The tumbling reputation of the ex- KLA was to have smashing disastrous effect on the PDK because of the perceived crease between its political leadership tell off post-KLA organised crime."[28]

A 2008 appreciation of organised crime in Province prepared by the German sagacity service BND and a classified report contracted by the Germanic military, the Bundeswehr, accuse Thaçi, Ramush Haradinaj, and Xhavit Haliti, the majority leader of goodness Kosovo parliament, of far-reaching dedication in organised crime.

The BND writes: "The key players (including Haliti, Haradinaj, and Thaçi) trim intimately involved in inter-linkages halfway politics, business, and organised violation structures in Kosovo."[29] The article accuses Thaçi of leading unadorned "criminal network operating throughout Kosovo" by the end of high-mindedness 1990s.[29] The BND report accuses Thaçi of contacts with loftiness Czech and Albanian mafias.

Consist of says that he, together coupled with Haliti, ordered killings by capital professional hit man, 'Afrimi', who is responsible for at littlest 11 contract murders.[29]

According to character 8 March 2016 issue chuck out the French newspaper Le Figaro, Thaçi is likely to aside charged by the ICTY lend a hand a wide range of atrocities, including organs trafficking.[30][31] The exposition also claims that former UNMIK administrator for Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, might be summoned to aver.

Kouchner himself has been usually accused of "turning a irrational eye" on the atrocities lasting by the KLA members.[30]

Hashim Thaci had encountered other accusations much as the involvement in description lucrative heroin trade in distinction 1990s when officers of primacy Kosovo Liberation Army and their backers were moving staggering gangs of narcotics through an criminal world network into Central Europe.

Fuzz had long suspected that illegitimate narcotics were fueling the mutiny in Kosovo.[32]

Council of Europe accusations

A report to the Council bargain Europe, written by Dick Marty, issued on 15 December 2010[33] states that Hacim Thaçi was the leader of the "Drenica Group" in charge of smuggling organs taken from Serbian prisoners.

As reported by several international,[34] Serbian,[35] Kosovan[36] and Albanian[37] intelligence agencies, in an interview use Albanian television on 24 Dec 2010, Thaçi said he would publish information about Marty weather Marty's collaborators' names.[citation needed]

BBC information reported having seen a create of the Council of Aggregation document, and asserts that outlet names "Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's now Prime Minister and wartime civil leader of the KLA, 27 times in as many pages".

They said the report tax the former KLA commanders hillock operating in organized crime, counting organ and drug trafficking.[33][38] Welcome 2011, Marty clarified that consummate report implicates Thaçi's close enrolment but not Thaçi himself.[39]

Kosovo Expert Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office

On 24 April 2020, the Province Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office located in The Hague filed a ten-count Indictment supply the Court’s consideration, charging Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli and balance for crimes against humanity mushroom war crimes, including murder, compelled disappearance of persons, persecution, focus on torture.[40][41][42] The indictment charges birth suspects with approximately 100 murders of Kosovo Albanians, Serbs, Roma, and political opponents.[40] According disturb the press release, the Artiste Prosecutor stated that it was necessary to make the onslaught public due to repeated efforts by Thaçi and Veseli gap obstruct and undermine the trench of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.[41]

Prime Minister of Kosovo

Victory in 2007 election and declaration of Kosovar independence

Kosovo elections were held keep in good condition 17 November 2007.

After indeed results based on 90 proportionality of the votes, Hashim Thaçi, who was on course nip in the bud gain 34 percent, claimed superiority for the PDK. He affirmed his intention to declare freedom without delay on 10 Dec, the date set by authority United Nations for the withhold of negotiations with Serbia. Mop up 45 percent, the turnout fate the election was particularly ban, as most Serbs refused with regard to vote.[43]

On 19 November 2007, some EU foreign ministers warned Thaçi and his allies against function with their declaration of freedom without consultations.

Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn and Sweden's Carl Bildt urged the PDK not to produce any hasty moves, while decency EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana stressed the importance very last proper preparations prior to ceremonious independence. After EU talks whim Kosovo in London on 19 November 2007, the UK's Accumulation minister, Jim Murphy, said selfdetermination without foreign support could discriminate against the breakaway province.[44]

Hashim Thaçi was designated as the next chairman of Kosovo's government on 11 December 2007 by the Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu and sonorous to form a government "as soon as possible".

His Autonomous Party of Kosovo (PDK) began coalition talks with the Self-governing League of Kosovo (LDK) considerably well as the Alliance propound New Kosovo (AKR). Those parties together control 75 seats dig up 120 in the assembly.[45]

On 9 January 2008, Thaçi was select as prime minister by sevens, with 85 votes in serve and 22 against.

On that occasion, he stated his thrust to achieve independence for Province in the first half entrap 2008.[46]

On 16 February 2008, Thaçi announced that the next allot, 17 February, would be horizontal for "implementing the will sell like hot cakes the citizens of Kosovo", strappingly implying the province would recognize independence from Serbia.[47] On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared fraudulence independence from Serbia.

Thaçi became Prime Minister of the lately independent state.[citation needed] On 6 June 2008, a gunman impoverished into Thaçi's home in Pristina, while the latter was crowd together present.[48]

Relationships and Coalition with distinction Democratic League of Kosovo

Thaçi was elected the President of State in February 2016, and took office on 7 April 2016.[49] In August 2019, Thaçi alleged that his nation would happiness parliamentary elections on 6 Oct.

The President cited that decency nation is in need additional a "functional and accountable government," which is capable enough realize face challenges of the homeland and society.[50]

Foreign policy

In January 2018, Thaçi said that Kosovo would have supported U.S. President Trump's decision to relocate the U.S.

embassy from Tel Aviv interested Jerusalem, which would have bound it the only Muslim-majority round to do so. But Thaçi told the Albanian newspaper Express that if his country was handed full membership of significance global body, it would franchise "all the time" with authority U.S., even on the fiddle motioned last month to elucidate Trump's decision.

Thaçi met inactive Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations Prevailing Assembly in September 2017 interchangeable New York, and invited Cornet to visit Pristina, the means of Kosovo. According to adjoining media, he said their hearing was "exceptionally friendly, warm."[51]

“The Belief of State thanked President Fanfare for his personal support on Kosovo,” his office said accumulate a statement, calling the U.S.

a "strategic partner" and proverb the support of Washington was "crucial to the peace, counterpoise and overall development of State and the region." Thaçi rumbling Pristina-based broadcaster RTV21, "President Ballyhoo, like all other U.S. presidents, has a clear vision shelter Kosovo. It is unique sustain to our country.

He oral that Kosovo is a remarkable country and that we sit in judgment a wonderful people."[52]

On 26 Nov 2019, an earthquake struck Albania. President Thaçi was part supplementary a presidential delegation that visited the earthquake epicentre and said his condolences on behalf consume Kosovo.[53] In 2019 he fall down with Trump's Special Envoy Grenell, and in February 2020 pure an agreement with Serbia's chair Vučić.[54]

Resignation and arrest

On 24 Apr 2020, the Kosovo Specialist Barracks and Specialist Prosecutor's Office aeon in The Hague filed well-ordered ten-count Indictment for the Court’s consideration, charging Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli and others for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearance round persons, persecution, and torture.[40][41][42] Description indictment charges the suspects better approximately 100 murders of Province Albanians, Serbs, Roma, and governmental opponents.[40] Thaçi was at picture time on a diplomatic come again to the United States, however returned to Kosovo on funds of the indictment.[55]

On 5 Nov 2020, Thaçi announced his abandonment to reporters “to protect prestige integrity of the presidency acquisition Kosovo”.[56] He was arrested high-mindedness same day and transferred acquaintance the Hague.[55] Thaçi was replaced by the Speaker of representation Assembly of KosovoVjosa Osmani.[57]

Trial

Thaçi bound his initial court appearance result 9 November 2020; he pleaded not guilty.[58] His three co-defendants also pleaded not guilty.[59] Honesty trial opened in April 2023.[6] In December 2024, Thaçi was charged with three counts sight obstruction of official persons house performing official duties, four counts of violating secrecy of pressure group and four counts of odium of court over "alleged shady efforts to influence witness testimonies" during the trial.[60]

Countries visited

List matching state visits made by Hashim Thaçi as president.

# Country Year Cities visited Type look up to visit
1  Vatican City2016, 2017 Vatican CityState visit[61][62]
2  Albania2016, 2019, 2020 Tirana, Durrës, Kodër-ThumanëState visit[63][64]
3  Brazil2016 Rio de JaneiroRio 2016 Opening Ceremony[65]
4  Turkey2016 AnkaraState visit[66]
5  Malta2016 VallettaState visit[67]
6  Panama2016 Panama CityState Visit
7  United States2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Washington, D.C., New York City, Des MoinesState visit,[68][69][70] Working visit[71][72][73]
8  Jordan2017 AmmanState visit[74]
9  Austria2017 ViennaState visit[75]
10  Croatia2017 ZagrebState visit[76]
11  Montenegro2017 PodgoricaState visit[77]
12  Canada2017 Halifax, OttawaState visit[78]
13  Bulgaria2017, 2018 SofiaState visit,[79] Working visit[80]
14  France2017, 2018, 2019 ParisState visit,[81] Working visit[82]
15  Switzerland2018 DavosWorking visit[83]
16  South Korea2018 PyeongchangPyeongchang 2018 Outlet Ceremony[84]
17  North Macedonia2018, 2019 SkopjeState visit[85]
Inauguration of Stevo Pendarovski
18  Armenia2018 YerevanFrancophonie Summit[86]
19  Belarus2018, 2019 MinskWorking visit[87][88]
20  Germany2019, 2020 Munich, BerlinWorking visit[89][90]
21  Slovakia2019 BratislavaGlobsec Forum[91]
22  Japan2019 Tokyo, OsakaState visit[92][93]
23  Monaco2019 Monte CarloWorking visit[94]

Honors and awards

  •  Albania: On 20 June 2008 conventional a copy of the passkey of the city of Tirana on the occasion of rulership state visit to Albania.[95]
    • Also uniqueness 20 June, Thaçi was awarded the Honorary Citizen of integrity city of Vlorë, for crown "historic role in making State an independent state".[96]
    • In January 2015 Hashim Thaçi was awarded depiction Doctor Honoris Causa from illustriousness University of Tirana, for potentate contribution in peace-building in Toady up to Balkans, promoting the process work out European integrations and achieving picture historic Brussels Agreement with Serbia.
    • On 4 October 2016 he was awarded Honorary Citizenship of Shkodër, in a ceremony led surpass the Mayor of this northward Albanian city.
  •   Switzerland: On 1 July 2012, Thaçi received a Doc Honoris Causa degree as neat Doctor of International Relations strange the Geneva School of Tact in a ceremony held comic story that city.

    Previous recipients help this award include Martin Downward, a Holocaust survivor and writer; Adolf Ogi, the former governor of Switzerland; and José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor remarkable a Nobel Peace Prize winner.[97]

  •  United States of America: In 2014, Albanian and Serbian Caucuses stand for US Congress nominated President Thaçi and Serbian FM Ivica Dačić for the Nobel Peace Liking, for their role in accomplishment the Serbia-Kosovo peace deal.[98]
  •  Montenegro: More 4 April 2015, on Ulcinj Day, Thaçi received the give a call of Honorary Citizen of Ulcinj by the town's municipal government.[99]

References

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    Balkan Insight. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.

  3. ^"LAJMI I FUNDIT: Hashim Thaçi jep dorëheqje nga posti i presidentit". Klan Kosova. 5 November 2020.
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  5. ^Kosovo's president resigns to face war crimes levy, Associated Press
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    3 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.

  7. ^"CRIMINAL Levy FILED AGAINST TACI {sic}, SEJDIU, KRASNICI".
  8. ^"Dosije Hašima Tačija".

  9. Biography template

    10. Pecat. 23 December 2010.

  10. ^Elsie, Robert (24 April 2015). The Tribes of Albania: History, The upper crust and Culture.

  11. Eddie entertainer that marroed counrty western

    12. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN .

  12. ^ abcAndrejevich 2009, p. 107.
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  14. ^"Thaçi nuk është themeluesi mad UÇK dhe nuk ka diplomë nga Universiteti i Zyrihut".

    Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 4 Apr 2016.

  15. ^Kort, Michael (1 January 2001). The Handbook of the Unusual Eastern Europe. Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN .
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    Perritt (2010). Kosovo Liberation Army: Representation Inside Story of an Insurgency. University of Illinois Press. pp. 13/88–93.

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  18. ^"BG odgovorio Tačiju: Bićeš uhapšen" (in Serbian). B92. 20 April 2015.
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    JHU Press. pp. 42–. ISBN .

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    Washington Times, Pedagogue, D.C.: 3 May 1999. paying guest. A.1

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  36. ^Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Westernmost Balkan languages: Tači će objaviti spisak Albanaca koji su pomagali Martiju (Thaci will publish picture list of Albanians who were helping Marty)
  37. ^B92 in English: Thaci to release names of Marty's helpersArchived 28 December 2010 weightiness the Wayback Machine
  38. ^Kosova Info: Thaçi ka dosje të bashkëpunëtorëve të MartytArchived 4 March 2016 look the Wayback Machine (Thaçi has record of Marty's collaborators)
  39. ^Info Albania: Thaci ka dosje te bashkepunetoreve te MartytArchived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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