July 28, 2025 – Washington / The Hague
Former U.S. Special Envoy for the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue under President Donald Trump, Richard Grenell, has once again spoken out regarding the continued detention of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi.
In a post on the social media platform X, Grenell reminded the public that it was Special Prosecutor Jack Smith who ordered Thaçi’s arrest in 2020—at a time when the Trump administration was actively working toward a historic normalization agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Jack Smith (yes, that one) arrested Hashim Thaçi in 2020 while Donald Trump was working on the Kosovo-Serbia deal. It’s shameful he’s still in jail. It’s a fraud. The Hague is in ruins,” Grenell wrote.
Grenell, who played a key diplomatic role during the Trump administration in the Balkans, has consistently criticized the Special Chambers in The Hague, arguing that the prosecution of Thaçi and other former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders is politically motivated and undermines regional peace efforts.
Thaçi has been held in pre-trial detention since November 2020, facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after the 1998–1999 Kosovo war. The Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, located in The Hague but operating under Kosovo law, have drawn international scrutiny over the duration and nature of the proceedings.
Grenell’s comments add to a growing chorus of voices especially among former U.S. officials who have questioned the legitimacy and transparency of the court, as well as its long delays in delivering justice.
