Live update

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 14:30. During this briefing, the KSC Spokespersons will provide a short update on the latest developments in the judicial proceedings before the KSC, as well as on other public activities of the Court. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions. Pre-registration is required to attend each briefing. To pre-register, please send an email with name and affiliation to [email protected]. Deadline for pre-registration is every Thursday at 12:00. The Zoom details will be shared following pre-registration. Recordings of the update provided during the Weekly Press Briefings will be made available on the KSC YouTube Channel.

On 30 December, President Trendafilova assigned a Constitutional Court Panel to rule on the referral, filed by Hashim Thaci earlier the same day. Judges Vidar Stensland, Roumen Nenkov, and Piotr Hofmański will decide on this referral, which follows the Appeals Court decision from 28 October 2025 (see here our post about that matter).

On 30 December 2025, the Supreme Court Panel, composed of Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen, dismissed Jakup Krasniqi’s request for protection of legality, which had been filed in November 2025. The request concerned the Court of Appeals Panel’s decision of 13 August 2025, which upheld the Trial Panel’s denial of Krasniqi’s request for provisional release.

On 22 December 2025, Single Trial Judge Christopher Gosnell, having received submissions from the Parties, adopted guidelines on the conduct of proceedings in the trial against Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi, scheduled to commence on 24 February 2026.
The guidelines set out practical directions on matters such as the public character of the proceedings, disclosure, the presentation of evidence, the examination of witnesses, and other procedural aspects aimed at ensuring a fair and efficient trial.

On 19 December 2025, the Supreme Court Panel, composed of Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen, dismissed Kadri Veseli’s request for protection of legality, which had been filed confidentially in November 2025. The request concerned the Court of Appeals Panel’s decision of 13 August 2025, which upheld the Trial Panel’s denial of Veseli’s request for provisional release.

As announced in our Calendar, the winter court recess at the KSC begins on Monday, 22 December 2025 and ends on 9 January 2026. During this period, no hearings are held and some non-essential services are reduced to a minimum. However, the court remains fully functional during this period and work continues across all sections of the KSC. Filings are possible during the recess and, unless otherwise ordered by the judges, judicial deadlines continue running.

On 18 December 2025, the Trial Panel in the case against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi announced the closure of the evidentiary proceedings. The Panel reiterated its earlier directions that the final trial briefs and the statement on the impact of the alleged crimes on participating victims are to be filed by 19 January 2026. It also set the agenda for the closing statements, scheduled to take place from 9 to 13 February 2026, with 16 and 18 February reserved if needed.

Prior to this decision, the Panel denied the SPO’s request to present rebuttal evidence, finding that the requirements for the admission of such evidence had not been met. The Panel also denied the Defence request for leave to appeal its earlier decision rejecting a separate sentencing procedure, confirming that any sentencing, if applicable, will be addressed together with the Trial Judgment. 

Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.

On 11 December 2025, the President of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, decided not to commute or modify Haxhi Shala’s sentence following his service of two-thirds of it.
Further information is available in the press release, published today.

Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.