The special comes up with a clarification after rejecting Thaci's request for the replacement of Judge Guillou

In the report issued to the media by the Special, the judge can only be replaced when they are unable to exercise their duty.

“DHSK Chairman Ekaterina Trendafilova dropped Hashim Thaci's request for the replacement of Judge Nikola Giju as the only judge in the number case K SC-BC-2018-01, following his appointment as judge to the International Criminal Court (GJPN). The chair explained that it could replace judges only if judges are unable to exercise their duty because of engaging in an event or another profession. It is not so in the case of Judge Giju, she said, as he would begin to exercise his judicial duties on August 19th. Until then, he is available to exercise his duties in the DHSK.

Furthermore, the communique reportedly dismissed the DHSK chairman without considering the alternative defence request for the removal of Judge Giju.

Also, the DHSK chief dismissed the alternative defence request for the removal of Judge Giju. The chairwoman found, among other things, that the request was unfounded and the defence presented no argument why Judge Giju's judicial position in another court, which has no jurisdictional clashes with the DHSK, could affect its independence”, said the released communiqué.