On 27 February, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague will hold the opening statements in the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuçi.
The session is scheduled to start at 09:30 and conclude at 16:00. The proceedings will be available online in the court’s three official languages—Albanian, Serbian, and English—via the KSC website with a 45-minute delay, or from the public gallery in The Hague.
The initial indictment against the five defendants was confirmed on 29 November 2024 and amended on 16 April 2025. This is the active indictment for the case.
According to the indictment, between at least 12 April 2023 and 2 November 2023, during unauthorized visits to the detention facility, Hashim Thaçi allegedly provided confidential information to Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazliu, and Kuçi regarding witnesses called by the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor, instructed them on influencing witness testimony, and gave details on how to act.
The indictment further claims that Thaçi coordinated three groups—composed of Smakaj, Fazliu, Kilaj, and other individuals not charged, along with Kuçi—to interfere with the testimony of witnesses called by the prosecution in the ongoing war crimes trial against Thaçi and others.
Isni Kilaj was first arrested as a suspect on 2 November 2023 and temporarily released under strict conditions on 15 May 2024. Following the confirmation of the indictment, Kilaj, Smakaj, and Fazliu were arrested on 5–6 December 2024 and transferred to KSC detention. Thaçi received his arrest warrant in detention, while Kuçi was served a summons for his initial appearance. All five defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution submitted its pre-trial brief on 19 September 2025. The defense teams of Smakaj, Thaçi, and Fazliu submitted theirs on 19–20 October 2025.
The case was referred to a Single Judge on 12 November 2025. Kilaj was conditionally released in Kosovo for the second time on 10 December 2025. Smakaj and Fazliu were conditionally released on 10 February 2026 by the decision of the Single Judge.
After the opening statements, the prosecution will begin presenting its evidence.
