Restrictions lifted, the court decides on private visits to Thaci, Veselin, Selimi and Krasniqi

In Kosovo Specialised Chambers ( In The Hague, the court panel in the case against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi has made a decision not to impose restrictive measures regarding the indictees' private visits.

In the decision of February 9, 2024, the chairman of the court, Charles Smith III, has in particular reminded Thaci and Selim of their obligation not to reveal confidential information to the third person.

For the reasons mentioned above, the panel through this: UNDERS of the accused, in particular, the Thaçi and Selimi gentlemen, for their obligation not to reveal the third unauthorized parties with no confidential information and/or information that could lead to the identification of protected witnesses; U n SERVANT the secretary to remind visitors to the detention facilities that they should not discuss or participate in discussions of confidential information concerning the KSC procedures with a detainee, including information concerning the identity of protected witnesses”, the decision said.

In addition, through this decision, the principal lawyers of all indictees are ordered to remind their team members of their obligations regarding confidential information.

“c) U n VIEW the main lawyer for all accused to remind members of the team of their obligations regarding confidential information; (d) U n TAKE the recorder to immediately announce the panel in case it issues a decision that sets limits or refuses a request for a private visit; and (e) U n SINCE Secretary, SPS, Selimi Defence and Thaci's Protection to hand over a edited public version of their respective files or to request their re-proscript as public no later than Friday, February 16, 2024<1>, it is said.

The panel reportedly refused to impose any restrictive measures regarding private visits. So he has estimated that there are no indicators that these visits are used for other purposes.

“Paneli recalls that, in his decision, he refused to approve any restrictive measures regarding private visits. In this regard, the panel found that “has no indication that these [private] visits have been used to engage in improper acts of so-called” and that the “panel will not hesitate to impose additional restrictions on private visits if any party engages in improper behaviour during such visits [private]”, the argument states.

While, in terms of the SPS's request that all private visits by Thaci and Selimi be monitored, the panel has stressed that they are important in terms of the rights of the accused, as well as there is no basis to impose restrictive measures on them.

“Linked to SPS request that the facts and circumstances now before the panel reason on the active monitoring of all private visits to Mr. Thaci and Selimi, the panel, stresses as follows. First, the re-exertation panel that since private visits are particularly important from the point of view of the basic rights of the accused, they can also be subjected to restrictions when necessary and in proportion to the need to protect a competitive public interest. Second, none of the visits involved in this decision were private visits. Rather, it was all unprivileged visits, which are already subject to restrictive measures imposed by the panel for Mr. Thaci, Selimi and Wessel. Therefore, there is no basis in this phase for the panel to order similar measures to be imposed in connection with private visits. However, the panel has made it clear that any misuse of privileges regarding such visits would be subject to an adequate” response, said further in the decision.

Otherwise, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, on September 30th, 2022, has handed over the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten points of charges, where the latter are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On April 29th 2022, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office had handed over a amended indictment to Hashim Thaci, Kadri Wessel, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi, where four indictees have committed war crimes even in Gjilan, Budakov and Semtish.

On November 9th 2020, in their first appearances, Hashim Thaci's Jakup Krasniqi has been declared innocent of the charges placed on them. Wessel has also been declared in his presentation on November 10th, as has Rexhep Selimi on November 11th.

The incident against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi is confirmed on October 26, 2020. /Betimy for Justice