Kosovo’s Specialised Chambers in The Hague have indicated that on October 19th the public-read version of a decision taken in October 2025 on the court case against Hashim Thaci and others for war crimes.
According to the Special’s announcement, the Judicial Chamber has rejected Thaci’s defence request that a witness’s statement be accepted only as written evidence.
The court has estimated that the declaration contained evidence regarding the direct actions of some accused as well as the credibility of previous witnesses.
For this reason, the Judicial Chamber has considered it important that the witness be present and can answer the questions of the opposing side in order to ensure the justice of the process.
As a result, Thaci’s defence has been asked to provide needed information for the witness’s presentation in court.
In the week’s announcement, the Specialised Chambers have recalled that the hearing for a plea to the case against Hashim Thaci and others for alleged influence over witnesses is scheduled for November 17th 2026.
The deadline for recording to attend the session from the public gallery in The Hague is 27 October, at 4: 00 p.m.
Interested ones should submit a request to PUBLIC@scp-x.org, including their name and surname, birthday and ID number or passport.
According to Special, only people receiving e-mail confirmation will be able to attend the session by the public gallery. The session will also be broadcast on the official site of Specialised Chambers, Albanian, Serbian and English.
According to the indictment, Hashim Thaci was allegedly given the Smajt Union, Isni Kilajt and Fadil Fazliu confidential information for witnesses expected to be called by the prosecution on the war crimes case, and had attempted to influence their testimony.
The first instance in the case was submitted on November 29, 2024, while the amended and confirmed indictment on April 16, 2025.
The trial began on February 27, 2026, as concluding statements were held from September 10th to September 14, 2026.
Isni Kilaj, Bashkim Smaj and Fadil Fazliu were arrested and transferred to the detention facility of Specialised Chambers in December 2024. Later, Kilaj was released on bail on December 3, 2025, while Smaj and Fazliu on February 3rd 2026.
During the trial, four witnesses witnessed in the courtroom.
Specialised rooms have stressed that the November 17th session will be open to the public through internet broadcasting, while physical participation will depend on registration and preliminary confirmation. /Telegraphy/