I'll bite myself if I'm in a dream or not” All details from today's Special Session

At the conference held on the performance of the court case against Thaci and others in The Hague, the prosecution has not given a date for the outcome of the investigations, while demanding that they not be interrupted, adding that the pre-trial file would be handed over in July on the condition that the trial begin in September 2021. This has been rejected by lawyers, under whom such a thing cannot afford fair trial.

Prosecutor Allan Tiger has said it is in the interest of justice for the investigation to continue as he said, due to the presentation of witnesses who can now find courage to provide their information and discover important materials that he said were hidden.

He has not given the judge a date for the end of the investigation, which according to him does not negatively affect the preparation of a quick trial.

“Based on our current forecasts for the start of the trial in September we would be prepared to file pretrial files and related materials in early July, two three months before the trial began. I want to add that the condition that we see within this institution as an integrated framework, I will explain as the prosecution, the investigative efforts of the prosecution are related to the conduct of the trial. If the anticipated date of the trial were to change, we would stand by our opinion that I just said we would submit the documents two months before the trial”, he said.

That was not agreed with the lawyers, who, as they claimed, needed time to prepare and conduct investigations on the part of defence.

Until I hear Mr. Tiger I have to bite myself whether I was dreaming or not, he's really saying this could be the case. If we talk about a regular court process, it's unimaginable. Of course I keep my mind open when I address this institution, but I have to say that these prosecutor's words are disappointing to my opinion. We have not yet started with the creation of the investigative team, unless we start investigating these issues, this is reality”, said David Hooper, lawyer of former President Hashim Thaci.

Lawyer Ben Emmerson, who defends former PDK head Kadri Veseli, has rejected the prosecutor's statement that the file deliver only three months before the trial begins.

In this case when it comes to 100 murders each should be investigated separately, along with a very large number of alleged illegal detentions, all should be investigated. The notion that the court could begin three months after the prosecution handed in its file is ridiculous. Not only ridiculous, it's the discovery of an attempt by the Prosecutor to have an unfair trial. Of course we won't let it happen. It is not a matter of negotiation or assembly, it is the basic minimum right to have a fair trial, and the fair trial is that according to the Constitution, European conventions, the trial will begin after the defence has made its preparations”, Emerson said.

He has reminded the judge of earlier cases at the Special Tribunal, such as the trial against Fatmir Limaj and Ramush Haradinaj, which did not cover all of Kosovo, and the time they needed to submit defence investigations was 18 months in the first case and 2 years in the second.

And he will also present the case in addition to Wessel's parole request, which he said would provide evidence of how such cases had previously taken more than three years for defence preparations.

Even Rexhep Selimi's defence, David Young and Jakup Krasniqi, Venkatceri Alagedra, have said 18 months for preparing the carrying investigations is the minimum needed.

At today's conference on the performance of the Thaci case and others, the prosecution has indicated that it has handed over 1309 potentially excusing materials and supporting materials of the indictment in Albanian and English, which include 1764 documents.

But the defence has expressed frustration over the materials the prosecution has delivered, stressing they need more information.

Thaci's lawyer has also mentioned the situation created by the pandemic, which is unable to make him a direct appointment for consultation with his client.

Today's conference was held aimed at reviewing the performance of the issue and body of exchanges between the parties, while the next one will be held in January next year.