Live update

A public redacted version of an order on the further conduct of proceedings was filed on 4 May 2026, setting out the next procedural steps in the case.

The Single Trial Judge directed the Defence to close their cases and file notices pursuant to Rule 131 by 14 May 2026.
The Judge also indicated that the evidentiary proceedings will not be formally closed until the outcome of the interlocutory appeal concerning the admission of expert evidence of witness Koen Herlaar is resolved. The parties are nevertheless to be prepared to file their final trial briefs by 19 June 2026, or on short notice thereafter.

Further steps include the possibility for the SPO to file any rebuttal motion by 15 May 2026 and the holding of closing statements 21 days after the filing of the final trial briefs. 

More details are available in the full decision in the KSC Public Court Records.
 

In a series of decisions made public recently, the Single Trial Judge in the case of Thaçi et al. on administration of justice charges ruled on several evidentiary matters.
The Judge declined to admit the expert evidence of SPO witness Koen Herlaar, who testified in court in March, finding that it could not be properly assessed in light of issues related to the methodology and the witness’s testimony. Similarly, the Judge rejected the admission of a report prepared by Thaçi Defence witness DHT-02, finding that it lacked probative value.
 
The Judge admitted a witness statement (DHT-01) tendered by the Thaçi Defence, pursuant to Rule 153, concerning the review of audio recordings and related transcriptions, noting that its probative value will be assessed at a later stage.
 
In a separate interim decision concerning Thaçi Defence witness DHT-03, the Judge found that the proposed report, relating to phonetics, can only be assessed following the witness’s testimony. The evidentiary phase has therefore been extended, including to allow for the testimony of this witness during the week of 11 May 2026, after which a decision on admissibility will be made.

As reflected in the Calendar, hearings in the case of Thaçi et al. concerning charges of administration of justice are presently scheduled for the period from 11 to 15 May 2026.

The transcript of the KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 30/04/2026 is now available. 

On 23 April 2026, the Defence for Rexhep Selimi filed a public redacted version of its final trial brief, which had initially been submitted confidentially in January 2026.
This is the last Defence final trial brief to be made public, following those filed by the other three accused.

The transcript of the KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 23/04/2026 is now available. 

Please be informed that the hearings in the case against Thaçi et al. on administration of justice charges provisionally scheduled for 24 and 28 April 2026 have been cancelled. The Defence has requested that the testimony of all of its witnesses be received by the Single Trial Judge in written form, which would not require them to be heard during trial hearings. The Single Trial Judge has now granted this request in respect of five of the seven witnesses tendered by the Defence, thus leading to the cancellation of trial hearings. A decision remains pending in respect of the remaining two Defence witnesses, which will be decided in due course.

On 17 April 2026, the Trial Panel in the Thaçi et al. case granted a request by the Victims’ Counsel to allow two close relatives of a deceased victim to resume the victim’s participation in the proceedings.

As a result, the total number of participating victims in this case increases to 156.
 

In its latest detention review decision, made public on 17 April, the Trial Panel in the Thaçi et al. case ordered the continued detention of Rexhep Selimi. The Panel found that the risks that the accused may obstruct the progress of the proceedings or commit further offences continue to exist.

A public redacted version of a decision reviewing the detention conditions of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi was filed on 17 April 2026.
The decision, originally issued confidentially on 4 July 2025, follows requests by the Defence for Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli to amend the detention conditions, which were initially modified by the Trial Panel in December 2023. The Panel granted the requests in part, removing certain previously imposed measures, in particular in relation to aspects of non-privileged in-person visits and video and telephone communications, including those with close relatives, while maintaining the remaining measures as necessary and proportionate.

In a separate decision issued on 19 March 2026 and also made public on 17 April 2026, the Trial Panel rejected a request by the Selimi Defence to rescind the remaining contact restrictions in respect of Rexhep Selimi. The Panel found that these measures continue to be necessary and proportionate, while allowing for limited adjustments in their implementation, including an increase in the number of authorised non-privileged in-person visits and additional opportunities for video and private visits.