Thaci turned down second request to visit father in Kosovo

Thaci had sought through his defence his provisional release to Kosovo for one day so that he could be allowed to visit his father.

According to the defence, Thaci's father has undergone a deteriorating health situation since the first decision to refuse to visit Kosovo in January this year.

The decision says the defence has indicated that Thaci's father was hospitalised in February 2025, the oath of justice reports.

“While his father has been distributed from the hospital, he has been accepted for medical service [ REDECT] and has been observed [ REDAKUED] during hospitalization.
The defense points out that Mr. Thaci had [ REDECT], that is [ REDAKUED] because of his age and general health. Also, his treatative physician appreciated that [ REDECT]. Mr. Thaci is concerned that his father's condition could [ REDAKUED]”, the decision says.

Under the decision, the defence has also proposed the site of the visit and also who may be a companion, information that is edited.

“The protection requires the visit to be made on [ REDECT] and be accompanied by [ REDAKUED]”, said further in the decision.

In addition, it says the defence opposes the fact that Thaci poses danger of escape, however, they claim that this conclusion of the pre-prosecutor could be softened through the same measures and conditions that were imposed in the previous two cases when he was provisionally released for humanitarian reasons.

Meanwhile, the SPS had responded to this defence request, saying Thaci's father is not hospitalised but in one country, the information for which he is edited to the public.

The SPS claims that the freedom demanded by Thaci poses a risk of obstruction and intervention in justice, as had been highlighted in Thaci's first request for this year regarding temporary release.

“The SPS states that if the pre-procedure judge intends to approve the Second Request for Freedom, any authorised visit should be fully accompanied and limited to a (1) day alone, and all conditions related to previous visits must be applied”, the decision says.

The manager, however, stressed that Thaci's father is not currently in the hospital and that Thaci is likely to stay in close contact with him through video phones.

While in its ruling, the judge has recalled that temporary freedom for humanitarian reasons is an exclusive measure.

Some factors may be important to this assessment, such as the procedure phase, the nature of crimes, the character of the accused, the gravity of relatives' illness, family ties, and the opportunity of socialised rest. The visit of a relative in critical condition has been accepted as a humanitarian reason justifying provisional release under certain” circumstances, the decision said.

The ruling follows by showing that the judge is aware that Thaci's father is at an advanced age but that at present there is no information showing that his health situation is critical.

The judge is aware that Mr. Thaci is advanced in age and has had [ REDECT].
The judge also considers the fact that Mr. Thaci has been [ REDOCTURE] up to [ February 2025. The judge also points out that, although his state of health has been deteriorating, there is no information suggesting his situation is an acute or life threatening crisis”, the decision said.

As a result, the judge has rejected Thaci's request for provisional release to Kosovo to visit his father.

Thaci had applied January 31, 2025 By judges in both cases (the one for war crimes and for administration of justice) to free him for humanitarian visits to Kosovo.

According to the January 31st 2025 decision, Thaci's defence had presented that the state of health of his client's father constitutes urgent and extraordinary circumstances justifying Thaci's release for humanitarian reasons. In both cases, his request had been rejected.

Otherwise, Hashim Thaci has been at The Hague's Prosecution Centre since November 2020. He is being tried for war crimes, as well as eventually being subjected to an indictment against justice administration.

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.

While, in terms of the case against justice administration, the Smaj Union, Fadil Fazliu and Isni Kilaj were arrested on December 5th 2024 in Kosovo and transferred to the detention facility in DrsK, on December 6, 2024, under the confirmed indictment and reported arrest 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.

And 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 today (December 9).

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.