The Single Trial Judge has scheduled the closing statements in the case of the Specialist Prosecutor v. Hashim
Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi for 10, 11 and 14 September 2026 starting at
9:30 CET.
The hearing will be public and can be followed in Albanian, English or Serbian through the streaming page of
the KSC website, or from the public gallery at the premises of the court.
To attend the hearing from the public gallery, pre-registration is required.
Journalists who would like to record the hearing from the media centre are also kindly asked to pre-register.
To pre-register, please send an email to [email protected] with your name, citizenship, date of birth and
passport or ID number, subject line “Closing Statements”.
Media are kindly asked to provide a scan of their press card and to indicate whether they wish to follow the
hearing from the public gallery or from the media centre.
The deadline for pre-registration is Friday, 14 August 2026 at 18:00.
Please note that your place is only confirmed once you have received a confirmation email. Confirmation
emails will be sent two weeks before the start of the closing statements.
The audio-visual recording of the closing statements will be made available on the KSC YouTube Channel.
Any journalists with questions may contact the Press Office at [email protected]. In addition, the
spokespersons of the KSC hold a regular weekly online press briefing for journalists at 14:30 on Thursdays at
which journalists can ask questions.
Any journalists wishing to join the press briefing online should write to [email protected] and we will
send you the link.
Case History and Summary of Charges
According to the indictment, between 2 July 2023 and 2 November 2023, during separate, unprivileged visits
to the Detention Facilities, Hashim Thaçi provided Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, and Fadil Fazliu with confidential
information about Prosecution witnesses, and attempted together with them, as well as other uncharged
individuals, to influence the testimony of certain witnesses. The indictment also alleges that the Mr Thaçi
agreed with Mr Kuçi that the latter should contact Prosecution witnesses in the ongoing Thaçi et al. war
crimes trial, contrary to an order prohibiting them to do so outside certain terms. Mr Kuçi is also alleged to
have contacted another Prosecution witness on his own.
Hashim Thaçi is charged with three counts of Criminal Offences Against Public Order (Attempted obstruction
of official persons in performing official duties) and eight counts of Offences Against the Administration of
Justice and Public Administration (Violating the Secrecy of Proceedings and Contempt of Court).
Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazliu are each charged with one count of Criminal Offences against Public
Order (Attempted Obstruction of Official Persons in Performing Official Duties) and one count of Criminal
Offences against the Administration of Justice and Public Administration (Contempt of Court).
Hajredin Kuçi is charged with two counts of Criminal Offences against the Administration of Justice and Public
Administration (Contempt of Court).
Isni Kilaj was arrested and transferred to the Specialist Chambers’ Detention Facilities in The Hague on 2 and
3 November 2023 and appeared before a Single Judge on 4 November 2023. On 3 May 2024, the Single Judge
ordered Mr Kilaj’s release to Kosovo under strict conditions, due to substantial delays in the proceedings,
finding that a further extension of his detention would be unreasonable.
Following confirmation of the indictment, Isni Kilaj, Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu were arrested and
transferred to the Specialist Chambers’ Detention Facilities on 5 and 6 December 2024. Hashim Thaçi was
served with an arrest warrant at the Detention Facilities, while Hajredin Kuçi was summoned to appear for
an initial appearance. All accused pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges.
In December 2025, Isni Kilaj was conditionally released to Kosovo pursuant to a decision of the Single Trial
Judge. In February 2026, Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu were also conditionally released.
The trial started on 27 February 2026. On 13 March 2026, the Prosecution closed its case.
By 30 July 2026, all Defence cases were closed.
On 5 August 2026, the Single Trial Judge closed the evidentiary proceedings and set the dates for Final Trial
Briefs, Reply Briefs and Closing Statements.
More information about the case is available on the Thaçi et al. Case Page.