The second trial of former president Hashim Thaçi in The Hague has concluded, with the parties in the final hearing clashing over the validity of the evidence and the criminal responsibility of the accused. According to the prosecution, the case concerns obstruction of the administration of justice and influence over witnesses; the defense, on the other hand, asked for acquittal.
Proceedings conclude at the Specialist Chambers
The second case against Hashim Thaçi concluded on Monday at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. Alongside him, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi are also being tried in this case.
They are accused of jointly influencing witnesses in the war crimes case in which Thaçi himself is also a defendant. Following the close of the proceedings, the judge is expected to set the date for the verdict.
Prosecution seeks convictions
At the final hearing, the parties answered the judge’s questions, while the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office repeated its request for the accused to be convicted.
According to the prosecution, the case presents a serious situation in which a former statesman facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity is suspected of having cooperated to obstruct officials in carrying out their duties. This remains the prosecution’s version of events, which will now be weighed by the trial panel against the objections raised by the defense.
Defense attacks prosecution transcripts
The strongest point of objection from the defense concerned the transcripts presented by the prosecution. Lawyers for Hashim Thaçi and Bashkim Smakaj said guilt cannot be decisively based on these materials.
Sophie Menegon, Thaçi’s lawyer, argued that the people who prepared the transcripts are unknown to the defense and were not questioned by it. In the same vein, lawyer Jonathan Elystan Rees said these documents cannot be treated as evidence with full probative value.
The other defendants also sought acquittal
The defense for Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi also sought acquittal, insisting that none of them committed the criminal offenses with which they are charged.
Kilaj’s lawyer described acquittal as the only possible verdict. Fazliu’s defense likewise sought acquittal on both charges, while Kuçi’s lawyer claimed the prosecution had presented very few concrete elements against his client, with no identified facts, witnesses or direct communications.
Awaiting the decision
With the conclusion of these proceedings, the case now moves into the phase of awaiting the trial panel’s decision. At the same time, a decision is also expected for Thaçi in the other war crimes case, which is scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday.
This makes the week decisive for the judicial fate of Kosovo’s former president, while the weight of the prosecution’s claims and the gaps the defense says exist in the evidence will now be tested in the court’s final decision-making.
The close of the proceedings has not resolved the main dilemmas in this case: the prosecution insists there was interference with justice, while the defense says the indictment has not produced enough evidence to cross the threshold of guilt.
The court’s ruling will be the next test of the real strength of the case file and of the evidentiary standard being applied in one of the most sensitive proceedings in The Hague.