THACI DEFENSE DENIED REQUEST TO SUBMIT WITNESS STATEMENT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE

THE HAGUE, OCTOBER 22 /SRNA/ – The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague have rejected a request by the defense of former Kosovo Liberation Army /KLA/ leader Hashim Thaci, in a case concerning alleged attempts to influence witnesses, to admit a witness statement solely as written evidence, ruling that the witness' availability for cross-examination was important.

The trial panel found that the witness statement contained testimony about the direct actions of some of the accused, as well as information relevant to the credibility of previous witnesses, Kosovo Online reported. Thaci's defense was asked to provide the necessary information to enable the witness to appear before the court, rather than having the statement admitted in written form. According to the indictment, during several non-privileged visits to a detention facility, Thaci passed confidential information to Baškim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadilj Fazljiu about witnesses whom the prosecution intended to call in the war crimes case. Together with them, he also allegedly attempted to influence the testimony of those witnesses. The trial began on February 27, 2026, and closing arguments were presented from September 10 to 14, 2026. Kilaj, Smakaj and Fazljiu were arrested on December 5 and 6, 2024, and transferred to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers' detention facility. Hashim Thaci was served with an arrest warrant at the detention facility, while Hajredin Kuçi was summoned to make his initial appearance before the court. On December 3, 2025, the single judge presiding over the case ordered the conditional release of Isni Kilaj. Baškim Smakaj and Fadilj Fazljiu were conditionally released on February 3 this year. Four witnesses testified in court during the trial.