The trial in the “Thaçi and Others” case continues today at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where defense teams are expected to begin questioning Witness 7.
During last week’s hearings, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office presented a summary of the charges, after which at least five of the accused confirmed their pleas of not guilty. The prosecution then proceeded with its opening statement.
Following the prosecution’s presentation, the defense counsel for Bashkim Smakaj concluded their opening statement, while the defense team of Isni Kilaj continued presenting its opening arguments.
After the opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense teams of Smakaj and Kilaj were completed, the prosecution called its first witness, who testified under protective measures as Witness 7.
The case involves several defendants, including former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, as well as Fadil Fazliu, Hajredin Kuçi, Isni Kilaj, and Bashkim Smakaj.
After the indictment was confirmed against the five accused, Kilaj, Smakaj, and Fazliu were arrested by the prosecution on December 5, 2024, and transferred the following day to the detention facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
Thaçi was served with an arrest warrant at the detention center of the Specialist Chambers on the same day, while Kuçi received a summons for his initial appearance. During their first court appearance on December 8, 2023, Thaçi and Smakaj initially did not enter pleas, while Fazliu declared himself not guilty to all charges. One day later, on December 9, Kuçi and Kilaj also pleaded not guilty.
After Thaçi and Smakaj chose not to immediately declare their pleas during a session on December 17, 2024, the pre-trial judge ordered them to submit their pleas in writing by January 7, 2025. Thaçi formally submitted his not guilty plea on January 6, 2025, while Smakaj’s plea was submitted on January 3 and later made public on January 14, 2025.
On November 11, 2025, the pre-trial judge informed the president of the Specialist Chambers that the case file would be ready to be transferred to a trial panel the following day. The file was subsequently assigned to a single trial judge, and a trial preparation conference was held on November 28, 2025.
The trial officially began on February 27, 2026, and proceedings are continuing with witness testimonies and questioning by the defense teams.
