Special Court 2020: Maratonic Interviews, Arrests, Severe Conflicts

They are facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

June 24th:

Former President Thaci was already on his way to Washington. Three days later, a signing of an economic agreement with Serbia was scheduled at the US helm. But Thaci's path stopped in half.

The late hours of June 24th will mark the beginning of a long range of special developments and actions. About half an hour before 4: 00 p.m., one of the most scandalous communiqués in the history of justice institutions was to be published on the Special website.

That day, the Specialised Procoria through a media communique reported that it has filed an indictment against President Thaci, PDK leader Kadri Veselini, and several other people. According to Special claims, Thaci, Veselin and the others are allegedly responsible for nearly 100 murders.

However, the report of the indictment by the Special specified that the same must be confirmed by the French Pre-Procedure Court, Nicholas Guillo.

 13, 14, 15, 16 July:

The announcement of the indictment of Thaci would not end with that. The country's president would be interviewed for four days in a row from July 13th to 16th. Thaci's statements stated that none of the questions posed to him concerned Senator Dick Marty's accusations of the White House.

From further documents submitted by The Hague and by lawyers, it had become known that in addition to the high date of Thaci's official interview date, the former president was interviewed on December 16, 2019, as well as on January 20, 2020.

August 25, October 20, November 26

Another important development that happened and got in touch with special work was the tender proposed on 25 August by former President Thaci dealing with the Special mandate.

It said that the “mandate of Specialised Chambers and Specialised Prosecutor's Office will last until the announcement of the mandate's completion is made by the European Union Council in consultation with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo”.

On October 20th, the specialised prosecution considered this act by the former president to be a public act against the work of this institution and an attempt to undo the special.

On November 26th, the Constitutional Special Chambers in The Hague dropped Thaci's request for amendments, reflecting that the Special mandate is ongoing and will continue until the Council of Europe's announcement that they have completed all investigative procedures.

September 7th, September 16, September 22nd:

The next dramatic development of this year that connects with special work is also the publication of confidential specialised Prosecution files. That would happen exactly three times, in high dates when even O The VL-KLA organised media conferences, and all the material they had received, delivered it to the media and the public.

During all this time, the two headlines were Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, both leaders of the War Veterans Organisation. Those in the top three dates would report on the files, publish the images from security cameras when they reached the files, as well as the same afterwards they would deliver to the media and the public.

Throughout this period, Nasim Haradinaj and Hysni Gucati indicated they do not recognise the Special Court, and all documents will be handed over to the public whenever they arrive.

June 12, September 24th:

The first date mentioned marks the day the first special indictment was confirmed. The first former KLA fighter under an indictment confirmed by the Specialised Prosecutor, became Salih Mustafa.

Mustafa would be arrested 24 September by Special Investigations, assisted even by EULEX police officers.

Shortly after that, Salih Mustafa would be sent to The Hague detention centre.

September 25:

On 25 September, in the early hours of the morning, special investigators, along with EULEX police, accompanied by Kosovo police officers had landed at the offices of the War Veterans Organisation in Pristina.

That day, special investigators confiscated all possible documents found in veterans' headquarters.

In addition, two leaders of the War Veterans Organisation, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, had also ended in the handcuffs of special investigators that day.

September 28th:

On September 28th, Salih Mustafa was presented for the first time by the Special Court.

In this presentation, Salih Mustafa was acquitted of all charges against him.

September 29, October 1st:

In the two top dates mentioned by Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj were presented for the first time before Pre-emptive Procedure Judge.

Nasim Haradinaj in his presentation had given the speech, while repeating he does not recognise and continues not to recognise the Special Court.

He had underlined that the victim of the recent war was the Kosovo people, not Serbs.

Unlike Haradinaj, Gucati had not given a special speech.

October 26, November 4, November 5,

On October 26th, Pre-Preligative Procedure Judge Nicholas Guillou had confirmed the indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi.

Crimes committed by the top mentioned between the period of March 1998 and September 1999, which are also claimed to have been committed in various locations of the Republic of Kosovo and that of Albania.

On November 4th, special investigators along with Eulex's, as well as the Kosovo Police, had entered for a raid on the two homes of former KLA spokeswoman Jakup Krasniqi.

After conducting the raids throughout the day, Jakup Krasniqi had ended up in EULEX Police cuffs, from where he was later transferred to The Hague.

November 5th would mark the day with most special developments. In the early morning hours of this day, the head of The PDK, Kadri Wessel, reportedly had confirmed the indictment by the Special Court.

Immediately after the release of the communiqué, Wessel announced he has resigned from all political functions, and would surrender voluntarily to special authorities.

A few hours after Wessel's announcement, there came the famous conference of former President Thaci.

He, in front of the media, confirmed that he has been confirmed the indictment by the Special, as well as that he resigns from the presidential post.

Thaci had also announced that he would voluntarily surrender to travel to The Hague. Following Thaci's resignation, on the basis of constitutional provisions, Vjosa Osmani, chairman of the Parliament, took over the presidency chair.

Along with Thaci and Wessel, Rexhep Selimi was travelling to The Hague in the afternoon, to which the indictment was also confirmed.

November 9, November 10, November 11:

On November 9th, Hashim Thaci's Krasniqi's Tribulal of the Special Court was presented for the first time. Both were found innocent of charges placed on them.

Unlike Thaci, who answered briefly the questions posed by the judge, Jakup Krasniqi, special among tears delivered a speech.

Among other things, Krasniqi stressed that throughout his life he has never wronged anyone, and that a great injustice has been done for him.

I want to declare today that I have never in my life in any single case treated people as much as you treated me from the prison building to this building. How I treated like this. I feel more than good, and I would never want to be under the clothing of people who are under a criminal's clothing. You try to divide Albania into Catholics and Albanians. I have some issues on the indictment, the prosecutor's assessment that we are a joint criminal enterprise with my friends there is no more insulting because we have a long time under very difficult circumstances of life and death we were put to the service of freedom”, Krasniqi stressed.

On November 10th, Special Tribunal presented Kadri Wessel. The latter without many words was acquitted of all points of the indictment.

On November 11th, innocent before Special Judges was also declared Rexhep Selimi.

November 18th:

On November 18th at The Hague Special Tribunal was held the first statute conference on Thaci, Wessel of others.

The accused at this session appeared through video conference as lawyers spoke on their behalf.

The first clashes between the Specialised Prosecutor and the lawyers were recorded at this session. This is after special prosecutors mention the summer of 2021 as the possible starting date for the trial.

This had prompted the harsh reaction of Kadri Veselin's lawyer, Ben Emmerson, as well as that of Hashim Thaci, David Hooper.

The two demanded at least 18 months of time to conduct their investigations into the prosecution's charges, thus setting the roughest date for the start of the trial, late summer of 2022.

Other procedural issues, including voluntary handover of the accused, and other procedures, were discussed at this statute conference.

December 11, December 14th:

On December 11th, against Hysni Gucati's Nasim Haradinaj has confirmed the indictment, which is not linked to alleged war crimes.

On December 14th, the same has become known to the public, while specifying that OVL leaders are charged with six counts.

The charges against Haradinaj and Gucati have been linked to holding the above-mentioned conferences, where files coming from persons so far unknown were published and given to the media for publication.

December 17th:

On 17 December, the second statuteial conference was held at the Special Court in the case of Thaci, Veselin, Selimi Krasniqi.

Even this statuteial conference was marked by slight clashes between the prosecution and defence. The latter called the prosecution's claims that the trial begins in September next year ridiculous.

According to this, the defence claims that until the full release of information, until the start of the trial on the date demanded by the prosecution, lawyers were left only three months for conducting investigations.

In this session, the defence reiterated that the possible date for the start of the trial is the end of 2022 or the start of 2023. In this context the minimum time required for protection is 18 months.

The defence also provided details on how many investigators will commit to conducting investigations in Kosovo.

They hinted they would engage foreign investigators in conducting investigations.

December 18th:

On December 18th, before the Pre-Procedure Court, two OVL leaders, Nasim Haradinaj and Hysni Gucati, appeared for the first time after confirming the indictment.

He was acquitted of all points on the prosecution, unlike Haradinaj, who will do so within a 30-day term.

This was after Nasim Haradinaj had changed his lawyer an hour before the start of his first session after confirming the indictment against him, so the same has been impossible to prepare a stand regarding the charges.

Requests for release from custody:

In addition to Salih Mustafa, who has been continued in custody, other persons already charged in The Hague have sought provisional release.

In this regard lawyers have also proposed conditions under which it has attempted to abide by the Pre-emptive Procedure Judge to make a decision to release by Condition.

Thus, Hashim Thaci's lawyer, David Hooper, has proposed the following measures:

House arrest,

Delivering international travel documents, and stopping access to specific countries or persons and participation by QAP,

A ban on media use or political activity and even on a condition that Mr. Thaci will reside outside Kosovo, again subject to conditions such as the PTJ considers appropriate.

If such a condition is set, defence is sure to be able to secure a third party state, not neighbours with Kosovo and satisfactory for SEE, along with the consent of that third party state to allow such an attitude and any court directives, writes News.net.

Nasim Haradinaj's proposed lawyer's measures:

Delivering the passport and stopping to leave Kosovo, in addition to certain appearances at the tribunal.

To dwell at his permanent address, and not seek its change.

Any device used for communication, be connected and recorded with the Special Prosecution.

Report to a local police station at certain frequencies.

Keep in touch with the accused.

I assume that he will not communicate with the media, seek to publish information about him or any other case currently subject to the court.

Hysni Gucati's proposed lawyer measures:

Gucati will not enter Pristina.

There's only one electronic communications device in which the Special Prosecution will have access.

Gucati live outside Kosovo. To dwell and sleep every night at the assigned home at the edited state of the third party. This house belongs to a relative, and family members live in the same home.

Work Start:

The specialist is expected to start with her work since January 1st, when winter vacation ends.

The request for release from custody has submitted other lawyers, but the same have not yet been made public by the Special Court.