Thaçi’s Defense Team at Risk — Foundation Urges Urgent Intervention from Kosovo Government

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The legal defense of former President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, is facing serious jeopardy due to financial constraints prompting the Foundation for Legal Protection of Hashim Thaçi to call for urgent intervention from the Government and Ministry of Justice.

In a letter obtained by Klan Kosova, the Foundation warns that ongoing budget restrictions imposed by the state have created major financial difficulties that threaten the continuity of Thaçi’s legal defense before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

Following the departure of American attorney Gregory Kehoe in January 2025 due to a lack of funds, the defense team now risks losing another key figure — lead attorney Luka Misetiq — who may be forced to step down unless urgent support is provided.

“The imposition of spending restrictions on legal defense — enacted through amendments to the Administrative Instruction on the legal protection of potential indictees in processes before the Specialist Chambers — has placed the defense team of former President Thaçi in an objectively impossible position to perform its function,” the Foundation’s letter states.

They emphasize that without immediate financial assistance, the remaining legal counsel will also be unable to continue, potentially compromising Thaçi’s right to a fair trial.

The letter strongly urges the Government of Kosovo to restore adequate funding mechanisms, noting that the recent administrative changes have severely hampered the proper functioning of the legal team.

This development marks a critical moment in the high-profile war crimes trial, raising broader concerns about the state’s responsibility in ensuring the legal rights of its former leaders are upheld, particularly in internationally monitored proceedings.

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