Thaci case and others, Special refuses defence request to appeal the decision to accept certain written statements

Kosovo Specialised Chambers spokeswoman ( In The Hague, Angela Greep has announced that the court has rejected the joint defence request to appeal the decision to accept some written statements of witnesses in the court case against former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders (UÇK), Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

At the TsK's weekly briefing conference, Greep said this decision was made on June 18th, 2024, reports “The Law on Justice”.

The court's “Court overturned the defense's request to appeal the decision to admit in writing some of the testimony of witnesses with the intention of simplifying and speeding up judgment. On the same day, the court also dropped the common defense requirement for three changes in the judges ' order on the development of the trial in connection with the preparation hearings of witnesses. The court found that regulation in force and order on the development of the trial contain the necessary guarantees to protect the rights of opposing sides in aspects raised by defence”, Greep said.

In the same court case, Greep said the manager has announced to the juro that Shiamala Alegendra-Khan has been approved on condition as Jakup Krasniqi's co-ordinator.

On the other hand, Greep announced the continuation of the detention move for Hashim Thaci and Kadri Veselin by two separate decisions, specifying that there is a danger for them to prevent the progress of the judicial process or even commit other crimes.

“In their decisions, the judges stressed that the names and personal records of some of the extremely vulnerable witnesses would continue to be provided protection, and the accused would be recognized, and that the release of an accused who has knowledge of sensitive information would not help effective protection of witnesses who have not yet witnessed. In this regard, the court reminded even its earlier findings that it appears that the accused have provided visitors with information concerning protected witnesses' testimony and, in the case of Mr. Thaci, he conveyed instructions for a future witness regarding the form and content of testimony that could provide”, Greep said on the move.

She said the court has overturned the defence request to appoint an independent investigator regarding some claims which were submitted in a letter.

The trial “Trug overturned the defence request to appoint an independent investigator regarding the claims presented in a letter, which may be relevant to a witness's credibility. Instead, the court ordered the prosecution to investigate the allegations in that letter before the witness in question gives evidence, as well as inform judges, defense and defender of the victims of the investigation findings”, Greep said.

DKS spokeswoman said the defence requirement for additional time has been approved in part to respond to the prosecution's statements concerning facts reviewed in other processes.

“Termine “facts examined in other processes” refers to aspects related to the trial and which have been placed in other judicial processes, whether by DHSK or by other courts”, she said.

Among other things, Greep spoke of the recent warning that the head of DPSK, Ekaterina Trendafilova, has issued for Nasim Haradinaj to respect the conditions set in the decision to modify his sentence.

“This warning came as a result of reports that Mr. Haradinaj had given several interviews without seeking permission from the manager, as requested in the chairman's decision on modification of the sentence. Also, the chairman stressed that Mr. Haradinaj was reminded even earlier this year of terms of his release, especially on media contact and direct or indirect statements about DHSK. Mayor Trendafilova warned that any further violations by Haradinaj, however small, would lead to the annulment of the decision on modification of the sentence and its immediate return to the detention facility in The Hague, where she would carry out the remaining” sentence, Greep said.

Otherwise, Kosovo Specialised Chambers in The Hague every Thursday at 14:30, via online platform “Zoom” hold weekly information offering updated information on recent developments regarding judicial procedures and activities in this court.