Smaqi: Judgment against KLA leaders in The Hague without credibility and serious violations we expect a free trial early in 2026

In this regard, Kosovo lawyer Jevdet Smakqi has spoken of Periscopi, who has raised serious concerns about the way the process has developed so far.

The “should initially be reiterated that the judgment against KLA leaders from Kosovo's Specialised Chambers is involved in serious violations of fundamental principles of justice.” He said.

According to him, since the resignation of KLA leaders in November 2020, the detention measure has been illegally extended.

The “Since KLA leaders were self-designed in November 2020, we have estimated that the criminal procedure judge, but later the court has continued against the measure of detention by violating Article 29 pars 2 of the Kosovo Constitution, Article 5 and 184 of the Penal Procedure Code, Article 40 of the Law for Specialised Chambers, and Article 6 of the Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms, applied directly to Kosovo's legal system with Article 22 of the Kosovo Constitution.<1) He told Smakqi about Periscope.

The trial, according to Smakqi, has been accompanied by lack of transparency and scandals.

This trial over 5 years has been accompanied by violations of the fundamental principle of publicity being closed to the public over 60% of its total.”, he said.

He stresses that the process has been without credibility and there have been allegations of corruption involving former prosecutor Jack Smith.

This trial process has been completely free of credibility with scandals even because of former prosecutor Jack Smith's allegations of involvement in corruption. ”- The lawyer said.

Next, he criticises Kosovo government for interventions that, according to him, have seriously damaged defence.

The “was accompanied by public and institutional damage even by the Government of Kosovo when it changed Administrative Guide No.08/22, which has halved financial compensation for specialised defenders, the former President Thaci Mr. Ceohy and Chief Master Agent Veselin Mr. Emerson.”, He said Periscope.

Describing it as a process of many deviations, Smakqi expresses doubts about the judiciary's objective and predicts an unpredictable outcome.

The “therefore based on the amended course of this judicial process with suspected former KLA witnesses, with unilateral approach of the panel, with trial closed over 60%, with impacts on financial compensation in protecting the KLA leaders, we consider that the end of this judicial process is uncertain to any objective observer, so no one can predict its real epilog.”, therefore, He said.

The lawyer expresses his conviction that none of the claims of the indictment have been proven.

“As a lawyer as long as we have seen the trial in public without the closed part I believe that the former KLA leaders should be acquitted of absurd charges and that no evidence has been proven of indictment device for joint criminal enterprise and no direct involvement in any crime.”, Smakqi said.

In conclusion, he voiced expectation of a legal act early next year.

“If the court is objective and independent of political influences based on ICTY's judgments on the former Yugoslavia in Limaj and Haradinaj case, and on international witnesses like Mr. Cricket Abrahmas, Clark, etc. The ZPS and the Defence I expect to have a release act late in February 2026. ”He added it away./ ALBINA ZARIQE- PERISCOP/

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