TIRANA, August 6 – The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced that closing statements in the trial against former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi and four others will take place in mid-September.
The court scheduled the hearings for September 10, 11 and 14. The case involves Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi, who face charges related to alleged obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors accuse the defendants of influencing witnesses between April and November 2023 in the war crimes case against Thaçi and former Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) leaders Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.
Thaçi faces three charges of attempting to obstruct official duties and eight charges related to violating the confidentiality of proceedings and disobeying the court. Smakaj, Kilaj and Fazliu each face charges of attempting to obstruct official duties and disobeying the court, while Kuçi faces two charges of disobedience. All five defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, the court will announce the verdict on September 16 in the separate war crimes and crimes against humanity case against Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi. The four former KLA leaders deny charges related to alleged crimes during the 1998-1999 war and have remained in detention in The Hague since their arrests in 2020.
The Specialist Chambers operate as part of Kosova’s judicial system but include international judges and prosecutors. The trial has faced criticism in Kosova, where many have claimed it focuses only on alleged KLA crimes and does not address crimes committed by Serbian forces.
The proceedings have also sparked protests and public support campaigns across Kosova.
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