PRISTINA, Feb 27 /ATA/ At the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, during today’s opening statements, the five accused formally entered pleas of not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice.
The accused—Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuçi—are charged with obstruction of justice.
The hearing commenced with Judge Kristofer Gosnel outlining the proceedings, noting that the indictment was initially filed on 29 November 2024 and subsequently confirmed on 16 April 2025, with an additional criminal charge brought against Hashim Thaçi.
“Proceedings in this case commenced in 2024. On 29 November 2024, arrest warrants were issued for Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, and Fadil Fazliu, while a summons to appear was issued for Hajredin Kuçi. On 8 and 9 December 2024, the first hearing was held for the accused, who each entered pleas of not guilty to the charges brought against them. On 16 April 2025, following the preliminary proceedings, the Judge authorized an amendment to the form and scope of criminal liability with respect to Thaçi, and the Prosecutor submitted a confirmed amended indictment. On 24 April 2025, Thaçi entered a plea of not guilty to all charges specified in the indictment,” the Judge stated.
While reading out the charges against Thaçi, the Specialist Prosecutor stated that he is accused of three offences against public order and eight offences against the administration of justice and public administration.
The initial indictment against the five accused for obstruction of the administration of justice was confirmed on 29 November 2024 and subsequently amended on 16 April 2025.
According to the indictment, between 12 April 2023 and 2 November 2023, during various visits to the detention facility, Thaçi provided Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazliu, and Kuçi with sensitive information concerning witnesses summoned by the Prosecutor in the war crimes case of Thaçi et al., instructing them to influence the witnesses’ testimony and providing specific guidance on how to proceed.
The indictment further alleges that Thaçi coordinated three groups, composed of Smakaj, Fazliu, Kilaj, Kuçi, and other individuals for whom no charges have been brought, with the purpose of interfering with the testimony of witnesses summoned by the Prosecutor in the ongoing war crimes trial of Thaçi et al.
In relation to the case concerning the obstruction of justice, Bashkim Smakaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Isni Kilaj were arrested on 5 December 2024 in Kosovo and transferred to the detention facility in The Hague on 6 December 2024. Thaçi, for his part, was served with an arrest warrant at the detention facility in The Hague on 5 December 2024, according to the notification issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
/KosovaPress/sm/
