Attorney Pestman completes duty, a new defender assigned to Fadil Fazliu

This was made known by an announcement by Kosovo Specialised Chambers Manager ( TSK) in The Hague, Fidela Donlon on February 19th 2025, reports “The Justice Act“.

Fazliu had applied for Young to be appointed as his lawyer, on December 16, 2024, for what two days later the manager had asked for an opinion from the panel of judges in the case of former KLA leaders, as well as the judge of the preliminary procedure in this case, regarding whether Young's appointment in this post conflicts.

On January 27, 2025, the judge of the preliminary procedure has found there is no conflict of interest in appointing Young as Fazliu's lawyer. The court had similarly ascertained the case against former KLA leaders.

As a result, on February 18, 2025, David Young was appointed to the position of a specialised lawyer for Fadil Fazliu, thus completing the commitment of lawyer Pestman.

Otherwise, Bashkim Smaj, Fadil Fazliu and Isni Kilaj were arrested on December 5th 2024 in Kosovo and transferred to the detention facility in TrsK on December 6th on the basis of the confirmed indictment and reported arrest issued by The Hague. While, Thaci has been handed over to the warrant at the detention facility at The Hague on December 5th, 2024, always according to the DK's announcement.

On the other hand, Hajredin Kuci has been handed over to the confirmed indictment and the call to appear before the court of preliminary procedure for the first presentation, which was held on December 9, 2024.

According to the indictment, Thaci individually and through joint actions with groups; The band Fazliu (Fadil Fazliu and Fahri Fazliu), the Smaj Group (Bashkim Smaj, Blerim Shala and Artan Behrami) and the Kilaj Group (Isni Kilaj and Vlasnim Kryeziu) have followed a pattern of conduct to prevent official persons from performing official duties.

The indictment says Thaci has led and participated in these efforts through his visits to detention facilities during the time he was detained under his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It says that members of the Fazliu Group, the Smaj Group and the Kilaj Group were co-ordinated to influence SPS witnesses during the unprincipled visits of July 2nd, September 9th and October 6th 2023.

As a result, three counts of obstructing the official person in carrying out official duties bear against Thaci three counts of violations of the procedure's secrecy and four counts of disobedience to the court.

While, Kilaj, Smaj and Fazliu are accused of trying to prevent official persons from performing official duties and disobeying the tribunal. However, Kuci has two counts of contempt of court.