Thaci's defence request to replace preliminary court rejected

Kosovo Specialised Chambers Speaker ( TSK) in The Hague, Ekaterina Trendafilova has dropped Hashim Thaci's defence request to remove or replace the judge of the preliminary procedure, Nicolas Guillou.

On April 8th, President Trendafilova dropped Thaci's defence request to remove or replace Judge Nicolas Guillou as the sole judge, said DPSC spokesman Michael Doyle through the weekly briefing.

According to Doyle, the request was made on the grounds that Guillou was sworn in as judge at the International Criminal Court, and Thaci's defence has argued that this judge's independence is violated.

The request was made on the grounds that Judge Guillou took the oath of court in the JPN on March 8, 2024 and will exercise his judicial functions in the NGG, starting on August 19th, 2024. Mr. Thaci argued, among other things, that the independence of Judge Guillou will be violated by the fact that he answers to the two courts and because he will be prepared to work on issues he will be charged with in the JGPN, he will not be available to work in TrsK”, he said, broadcast the “Bettim for Justice<3>.

On the other hand, Doyle stressed that in her decision, the mayor has concluded that there is no competence for replacing a judge except in some cases.

Unless the judge is no longer able to perform his duties and this is not the case with Judge Guillou, because he will exercise judicial functions in the JPN starting on August 19th 2024”, Doyle said.

DPS spokesman added that according to Trendafilova, Thaci has not argued why Judge Guillo's independence has been violated.

And that no judge can be removed on the basis of general or abstract claims that are neither based nor detailed. She concluded that the availability of Judge Guillou to exercise his function as the only judge is a aspect that is valued by the chairman and is of administrative nature, and not the appeal of the parties”, TSF spokesman said.

Doyle added that the next session in this court case is scheduled to be held on 22 April.

As of next week (15-18 April 2024) closing statements are expected on the case against Peter Shala.

In the Peter Shala case, concluding statements will be held from April 15th-18th to April 2017, where the Prosecutor's Office will begin on April 15th and 16th, followed by concluding statements by the defenders of victims and defences. Mr. Shala will also make a statement after the victims' parties and victims' defenders have completed their statements. After the chief judge declares the case closed, the judges of the court will secretly assembly up to go out with an indictment of charges in the indictment. The indictment will be pronounced within 90 days of closing the trial, unless the circumstances require more time”, he said.