FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
On January 19, the final files against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army will be submitted to the Special Court in The Hague.
The prosecution, the victims' lawyer, and the defense teams of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim, and Jakup Krasniqi will submit the relevant files to the trial panel.
After the submission of these files, the final word remains, which is expected to be held from February 9 to 18, while with the conclusion of the trial, it is considered officially closed.
The KLA leaders have been in detention since November 2020, with no possibility of release from detention until this stage of the proceedings.
The judges will have a 3-month deadline to announce the first-instance decision, with the possibility of an extension for another two months.
Details about the process
In November 2020, Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi were arrested after a judge confirmed an indictment and issued arrest warrants. The prosecution alleges that the defendants bear individual responsibility for the abduction, mistreatment and killing of hundreds of civilians and non-combatants. This allegedly included individuals considered to be collaborating with Yugoslav forces and political opponents.
During the preliminary phase, the Prosecution presented thousands of pages of evidence to the defense. The defense conducted its own investigations and raised legal objections to the indictment and the court’s jurisdiction. 155 victims are participating in the process. Between April 2023 and April 2025, the Prosecution called 125 witnesses. Between September and November 2025, the Defense teams called 7 witnesses. Each side had the opportunity to ask questions and challenge the testimonies of witnesses called by the other side.
Under the law, an accused can only be held in detention if judges find that there are risks that justify it. So far, in more than 25 detention reviews, judges have found that Mr. Thaçi and his co-accused posed a risk of committing other crimes, specifically against persons who had given evidence or were expected to give evidence before the Specialist Chambers.
The judges have also stressed that detention is intended to prevent the risk of retaliation against witnesses or attempts to induce a witness to withdraw his or her testimony. The judges will continue to assess every two months whether detention continues to be necessary to address these risks.
Regarding the principle of public trial, 134 witnesses who testified in the courtroom during the trial did so in open court, 61 of these witnesses testified without any protective measures. This despite the fact that transparency has been significantly criticized.
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