The Kosovo Specialist Chambers have not set an exact date for the verdict in the case of the four former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The court’s spokesperson, Michael Doyle, told journalists in a briefing that, according to the rules, the decision is expected within three months after the conclusion of the proceedings.
Former President Hashim Thaçi, former Speakers Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and former MP Rexhep Selimi have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
“It is in the hands of the judges. However, there are defined deadlines. The closing statements are expected to conclude on 13 February [2026]. The rules specify that judges then have 90 days to deliberate and issue the verdict. After that, there is also a provision for an additional two-month extension, and in exceptional circumstances, it could be even longer. I have no specific reason to expect delays beyond that, but we simply do not know. The assumption, according to the rules, is three months. If an extension is required, the judges would provide an explanation,” Doyle said.
Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi, and Selimi have been in detention since November 2020.
The trial began in April 2023. Initially, the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor called 125 witnesses, while 117 others submitted written testimony.
In September of this year, Thaçi’s defense began presenting its evidence, while Krasniqi’s defense announced two witnesses in court and two written testimonies. Veseli and Selimi will not present evidence.
Among the witnesses presented by Thaçi’s defense were mainly high-ranking Western officials with direct knowledge of the events. These included former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin and retired U.S. General Wesley Clark, who led NATO’s 1999 air campaign against Serbian military targets.
Before the closing statements, both parties are expected to submit their final briefs by 30 January.
Meanwhile, Thaçi is also facing a separate case for obstruction of justice. Doyle said that because the number of witnesses is still unclear, it is difficult to estimate the duration of that trial. However, he added, “I do not expect it to be as long as the war crimes and crimes against humanity case.”
What are the former KLA leaders accused of?
The indictment attributes both “personal” responsibility to the accused, as well as responsibility for “crimes committed by their subordinates.”
According to the indictment, Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi, and Krasniqi are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the murder of more than 100 victims, unlawful detention, and the torture of hundreds of victims.
The indictment claims that the four accused and other members of the KLA were part of a “joint criminal enterprise” and “shared the common objective of taking and exercising control over all of Kosovo by all means necessary, including intimidation, mistreatment, violence, and the elimination of those they considered opponents.”
The Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor — often referred to as the Special Court — were established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly and form part of Kosovo’s judicial system, but operate with international staff in the Netherlands.
The court investigates alleged crimes committed by KLA members against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000.
