The trial proceedings involving former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders are approaching a critical phase, as the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office is set to respond to questions from the judicial panel on Monday at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
The final statements of the defense teams representing former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, and Rexhep Selimi have already been completed. Meanwhile, the defense team for Jakup Krasniqi began delivering its concluding arguments on Friday and is expected to continue on Monday, February 16.
During Friday’s session, presiding judge Charles Smith confirmed that proceedings will resume at 09:00 local time, starting with the continuation of Krasniqi’s defense presentation. The afternoon session will then focus on submissions and responses from the Specialist Chambers and the prosecution.
The judicial panel has requested that the office led by Kimberly West prepare to address a series of legal and procedural questions. Judge Smith expressed confidence that the prosecution would be able to provide the required responses within the scheduled timeframe.
The case represents one of the most significant war crimes trials related to Kosovo’s 1998–1999 conflict, drawing widespread regional and international attention. The final stages of defense statements and prosecution responses are seen as a crucial step before the court moves toward deliberations and eventual verdicts.
