The defense of Hashim Thaçi, represented by lawyer Luka Mishetiq, announced that it has submitted an updated list of evidence in the case in which Thaçi, along with Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi, are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The updated list was submitted on October 31, 2025, following an order from the Trial Panel, which admitted four material items related to two defense witnesses, reports Betimi për Drejtësi.
According to the defense’s submission and the Trial Panel’s decision, these items pertain to the testimonies of witnesses 1DW-008 and 1DW-009.
The defense argued that this evidence is relevant and that no party would be prejudiced by its admission, as they would have the opportunity to question each respective witness regarding the material.
The items related to witness 1DW-008 include English and Albanian versions of an interview published in Zëri. This article concerns the witness’s experiences in Kosovo during 1998–1999, as well as the role of the United States in Kosovo, the witness’s interaction with the KLA, and particularly with Thaçi. A previous version of this interview had already been admitted into evidence, and according to the Trial Panel, this new version does not materially alter the prior material.
The documents related to witness 1DW-009 are from an official document of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia dated June 25, 1999, which includes various decrees ending the state of war, along with a partial English translation. According to the Trial Panel, these documents relate to the armed conflict period, the upcoming testimony of 1DW-009, and particularly his role in interactions with Serbian authorities, including the instruments and processes for ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, on April 15, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had completed its presentation of evidence in the case.
The defense had also filed a motion under Rule 130, which allows for the dismissal of one or more charges in an indictment. The decision on this motion was rendered on July 16, 2025. According to the Presiding Judge Charles Smith III, the defense sought dismissal of war crime allegations related to incidents occurring before May 1998 and after June 20, 1999.
“The Trial Panel notes that the incidents and events challenged by the defense do not constitute charges within the meaning of Rule 130,” said Presiding Judge Charles Smith III.
As a result, the motion was denied on the grounds that the Trial Panel does not have the authority to dismiss materials constituting charges based on temporal considerations. On the same day, the victims’ defense submitted its evidence, calling two expert witnesses to testify simultaneously.
In addition to their testimony on July 16, 2025, these two witnesses continued their testimony on July 17, 2025, completing the testimony of the victims’ defense witnesses.
The Office of the Specialist Prosecutor submitted the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi on September 30, 2022, consisting of ten counts in which the accused are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On April 29, 2022, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office submitted an amended indictment against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi, and Krasniqi, alleging that the four accused committed war crimes in Gjilan, Budakovë, and Semetishtë.
On November 9, 2020, in their initial appearances, Jakup Krasniqi and Hashim Thaçi pleaded not guilty to the charges. Veseli entered a not guilty plea on November 10, 2020, and Rexhep Selimi did the same on November 11, 2020.
The indictment against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi was confirmed on October 26, 2020.
