the archive of all previous press briefings is available on this page and the video files can be found on our youtube channel
Tuesday
29 August, 2023
09:45
Thaçi et al trial: witness W03832 resumes testimony
The testimony of the 18th SPO witness resumed this morning.
Monday
28 August, 2023
10:30
Thaçi et al: 18th SPO witness begins testimony
Protected witness W03832 has commenced testimony this morning in the trial against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi. The testimony of this witness is expected to take place mostly in private session.
Friday
25 August, 2023
16:15
Shala case: today’s hearing adjourned/Defence case starts in the week of 18 September
During the second day of the Defence Preparation Conference in the Shala case today, Trial Panel I issued a number of directions and oral orders organising the presentation of evidence by the Defence. Below are some of them:
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Referring to Rule 137 (relevancy of evidence) as well as Rule 143(4), which speaks about effectiveness and the avoidance of undue consumption of time and resources, the Panel ordered the Defence to remove five names from its witness list. Accordingly, the Defence is to file its revised list of witnesses by 29 August 2023.
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The Panel allocated 40,5 hours to the Defence to present its case. The SPO is allocated the same amount of time as effectively used by the Defence for the cross-examination of each Defence witness while the Victims’ Counsel will have 25% of the time effectively used by the Defence.
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The Panel announced that the Defence case will open in the week of 18 September and the exact date will be communicated in due course.
Thursday
24 August, 2023
14:45
KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 24 August 2023: transcript
Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.
Thursday
24 August, 2023
14:30
KSC Press Briefing: delayed start today
Please note that our KSC Press Briefing today will start at 14:40.
Thursday
24 August, 2023
13:30
Shala trial: first day of Defence preparation conference ends
Today’s hearing in the Shala case is adjourned. The trial resumes tomorrow at 14:30.
Thursday
24 August, 2023
10:30
Shala case: Defence Prep. Conference commences/scheduling change for tomorrow
During the hearing today, the purpose of which is to prepare for the Defence case, the parties will go through the agenda items, set out by the Panel at the last hearing on 21 August, such as the Defence investigation, the witnesses to be called by the Defence and their order etc. As for tomorrow’s hearing, which will commence at 14:30 (and not at 09:30 as previously scheduled), the Panel expects to issue a number of oral orders and directions.
Wednesday
23 August, 2023
15:30
KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 24 August
Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 24 August, 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.
Monday
21 August, 2023
17:30
Termination of the investigation against Driton Lajçi
On 18 August 2023, pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules, the SPO filed a notification that the investigation against Driton Lajçi has been terminated. As can be seen in the public filings of this case, Driton Lajçi, former official of the Kosovo Ministry of Justice, became an SPO suspect in 2019 and this matter was connected to investigations and/or cases pertaining to core crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers. See below the chronology of the major developments in this case with hyperlinks to the filings, including the matters before the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court (SCCC) and the KSC Ombudsperson:
2019: Driton Lajçi became a suspect and was, as such, summoned for an interview by the SPO.
Lajçi filed a referral before the SCCC alleging violation of his rights during the interview procedure with the SPO.
2020: The SCCC declared the referral inadmissible because he had not yet been criminally charged and, accordingly, his referral was declared premature.
2021: Single Judge denied the first application by Lajçi for an order directing the SPO to terminate the investigation against him. Later, the Court of Appeals rejected the Lajci’s appeal against that decision and agreed with the Single Judge’s finding that the investigation period did not contravene the “reasonable time” criterion under Rule 47 of the Rules;
Lajçi filed a complaint with the KSC Ombudsperson alleging, inter alia, that the SPO’s procedures and overall treatment of him interfered with his fundamental right to a fair trial but the KSC Ombudsperson concluded that he lacked jurisdiction to consider the complaint and accordingly rejected it.
2022 - 2023: Single Judge rejected the second application by Lajçi for an order directing the SPO to terminate the investigation against him. Lajçi filed an appeal against the decision but the Court of Appeals denied it and again agreed with the Single Judge’s finding that the investigation period did not contravene the “reasonable time” criterion under Rule 47 of the Rules;
SPO files notification that its investigation against Lajçi is over.
Monday
21 August, 2023
16:00
Shala trial: Defence preparation conference on 24 August
In its oral order today, the Trial Panel in the Shala case decided to convene the Defence preparation conference on Thursday, 24 August at 09:30. The Panel also specified a number of agenda items for the Conference, in relation to which the Defence, as well as other parties, are ordered to file written submissions by 23 August at 12:00. Today’s hearing is adjourned and the hearings, previously scheduled for 22 and 23 August, are cancelled.