In the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague, November 14, 2025, has been set as the date for the conclusion of the defense case in the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi.
The decision was made on September 2, 2025, by Presiding Judge Charles Smith III, as reported by Betimi për Drejtësi.
Key Points from the Decision:
- Defense Timeline:
- Thaçi’s defense, led by Luka Mishetiq, expects to finish presenting witnesses by the end of October, possibly extending to the end of November.
- Krasniqi’s defense, led by Aiden Ellis, has only two witnesses and requires about one week to complete their testimony.
- The date of November 14 is not definitive and may be adjusted depending on procedural needs.
- Witness Rules:
- Thaçi’s witnesses will testify under Rules 153, 154, and 107 (with specific protective measures).
- Krasniqi’s witnesses will testify under Rules 153, 154, and 155.
- Deadlines for submitting requests for witness protections are set for September 10, 2025, for Rules 153 and 155, and at least three weeks prior for Rule 154 witnesses.
- Defense and Prosecution Rights:
- Both sides may submit rebuttals or introduce evidence in response to the other party.
- Parties must be ready to submit final briefs and victim impact statements by December 22, 2025, before the court recess.
- Prior Developments:
- On April 15, 2025, the prosecution completed the presentation of its evidence.
- The defense filed a Rule 130 motion seeking dismissal of certain charges, which was rejected on July 16, 2025, as the court ruled it had no authority to dismiss charges based on temporal arguments.
- Victim witnesses also provided expert testimony on July 16–17, 2025.
- Pleadings:
- On November 9–11, 2020, the defendants declared themselves not guilty.
- The indictment was confirmed on October 26, 2020.
The Specialist Chambers continue to manage the trial schedule carefully to ensure the process concludes in an orderly and timely manner.
