The prosecution seeks to continue Thaci detention: There is a climate of witness intimidation even after witnessing

In the application submitted on September 22nd, 2025, the prosecution says there is suspicion that Thaci committed criminal acts that fall into the jurisdiction of Kosovo's Special Chambers ( D3SK) in The Hague, reports “Justice Trust”, broadcast Periscope.

To support this reasoning, the prosecution is also based on the decision to confirm the indictment in this case. According to them, no other circumstance has occurred since that decision that could change that definition.

For Thaci, the prosecution says he is aware of the serious charges confirmed against him, and that he knows that if convicted, he will be sentenced to long prison terms. In addition, the prosecution, the danger of Thaci's escape, argues with confirmed charges against him related to justice management.

In addition, the prosecution says Thaci poses extremely high risk to prevent procedures in this process and that the outcome of the prosecution case and victims' defenders does not eliminate this danger.

According to the prosecution, witnesses remain at risk of being influenced even after giving their testimony; as an effort to retaliate; or instigate to attract testimony or attempts to intervene in parallel procedures.

The prosecution also mentions her claims that Thaci has violated judicial orders by revealing confidential information regarding procedures and witnesses to others.

Moreover, the continuing climate of witness intimidation and interference in criminal procedures against former KLA members in Kosovo continues, which the Court of Appeals has acknowledged as a “contextal environment”. Similar findings have been made in the Act on Mustafa and the Apel Act on the Gucati and Haradinaj case. The judiciary panel in the case of Gucati and Haradinaj considered that “witness protection has continued to be an active and critical issue in Kosovo”, the prosecution's statement said.

In addition, the prosecution relied on testimony by the defence expert in the case against Gucatt and Haradinaj, Robert Reid, who had stressed that in over 20 years in his field, he had never seen witness intimidation at the level that exists in Kosovo.

According to the prosecution, this climate of witness intimidation continues to exist in Kosovo even after giving their testimony, referring to media reports in Kosovo.

Her request for continuing custody of Thaci is also supported by the prosecution's reasoning that the accused is in danger of committing other criminal acts.

As a result, the prosecution says none of the alternative conditions ease the existing risks in this process and that continuing detention of Thaci is reasonable and proportional.

Otherwise, the defense began with the presentation of its evidence on September 15, 2025, where former US Secretary of State James Ruby was heard for three days.

While, the former legal adviser of the Albanian delegation to Rambouille was called after him, Paul Williams. John Stewart Duncan, on September 22nd, began witnessing and finished on September 23, 2025.

On September 14th 2025, a mass protest was held at The Hague in support of former KLA leaders, attended by citizens from all Albanian and numerous exiles

DPSK has indicated that November 14th 2025 is set as the date for the completion of the defence issue in this case, while the final parameters of the process and statements on the impact of alleged crimes on victims participating in the procedure are scheduled to be submitted until December 22nd 2025.

Meanwhile, on April 15th 2025, the prosecution has announced that it has completed presenting evidence in the case.

While, the defence had applied according to the 130th Rule, which envisions a request to drop any charges or charges altogether in the indictment. The decision on this requirement was made on 16 July 2025. According to the chairman of the panel, Charles Smith III, what he had sought protection was his failure to rely on war crimes claims involving incidents that occurred before May 1998 and after June 20, 1999.

The trial “Trug notes that incidents and events that have occurred at the time opposed by defence are not accusations within the understanding of the 130” rule, the chairman of the court, Charles Smith III, said.

As a result, this motion had been dropped with the reasoning that the court's authority is to bring down material that constitutes accusations involving time causes. While, the same day, the protection of the victims had presented its evidence, calling two expert witnesses to testify simultaneously.

In addition to testifying on July 16, 2025, the testimony of these two witnesses continued on July 17, 2025, ending the testimony of the victims' defense witnesses.

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 on 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.