The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) sentenced Wednesday Serbia's former interior minister Vlastimir Djordjevic to 27 years in prison for war crimes committed against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo between January 1 and June 20, 1999.

Djordjevic was arrested June 17, 2007 in Budva, Montenegro, where he was hiding under a false name. He was transported to the ICTY prison in The Hague.

His indictment was raised October 2, 2003, but it was made public 18 days later.

Djordjevic was accused of forced relocation, deportation, killings and persecution of Kosovo Albanians during the first half of 1999.

The trial started January 27, 2009. The prosecution finished presenting its case by October 28, 2009, while the defence finished May 20, 2010.

During the 199-day process, the prosecution called 105 witnesses, while the defence called 28.

The closing arguments were given July 13-14 last year.