On 29 November 2024, a Pre-Trial Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers confirmed an indictment against Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Fadil Fazliu, Isni Kilaj and Hajredin Kuçi, and subsequently issued four separate arrest warrants and one summons.
The indictment charges the accused with offences related to alleged unlawful efforts to influence witness testimonies in the Thaçi et al war crimes trial.
Mr Smakaj, Mr Fazliu and Mr Kilaj were arrested on 5 December in Kosovo and transferred to the KSC Detention Facilities on 6 December, pursuant to the confirmed indictment and separate arrest warrants issued by a Pre-Trial Judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) carried out the arrests with the support of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).
Mr Thaçi was served with an arrest warrant issued by the Pre-Trial Judge in the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers on the basis of the confirmed indictment on 5 December.
Hajredin Kuçi was served with the confirmed indictment and was summonsed to appear before the Pre-Trial Judge, pursuant to the confirmed indictment, for an initial appearance.
According to the confirmed indictment, between at least 12 April 2023 and 2 November 2023, during separate, unprivileged visits to the Detention Facilities, Mr Thaçi provided Mr. Smakaj, Mr. Kilaj, Mr, Fazliu and Mr. Kuçi with confidential information about SPO witnesses, instructed them to influence the testimonies of SPO witnesses, and provided details about how to do so.
The indictment further alleges that Mr Thaçi coordinated three distinct groups, formed with Mr Smakaj, Mr Fazliu and Mr Kilaj, and other uncharged individuals, and with Mr Kuçi, in an aim to interfere with the testimonies of SPO witnesses in the ongoing Thaçi et al war crimes trial.
Pursuant to the confirmed indictment, Mr Thaçi is charged with three counts of attempting to obstruct, by common action of a group, official persons in performing official duties, four counts of violating the secrecy of proceedings, and four counts of contempt of court. Mr Fazliu, Mr Smakaj and Mr Kilaj are each charged with one count of attempting to obstruct, by common action of a group, official persons in performing official duties, and one count of contempt of court. Mr Kuçi is charged with two counts of contempt of court.
In line with the KSC Rules of Procedure and Evidence, separate initial appearances for four of the accused in this case, Mr Thaçi, Mr Smakaj, Mr Fazliu and Mr Kilaj, have been scheduled to take place on Sunday, 8 December 2024 starting from 09:30 with the initial appearance of Hashim Thaçi. The initial appearance of Hajredin Kuçi is scheduled to take place on Monday, 9 December 2024 at 10:00.
The initial appearances will take place in public hearings and can be followed in Albanian, English or Serbian through the streaming page of the KSC website with a 10-minute delay, or from the public gallery at the premises of the court.
Journalists who would like to follow the hearings from the public gallery are kindly requested to notify the KSC if they will also need a seat in the media centre of the court. Please contact the press office at [email protected].
Public redacted versions of the arrest warrants and transfer orders will be made available in due course.
