Kilaj's interview given to prosecutors at the time of Kosovo residence being admitted to evidence

This was made known by Kosovo Specialised Chambers spokesman ( In The Hague, Michael Doyle, who said this was the prosecution's request.

“In interview time, Mr. Kilaj gave up his right to silence and the right to have lawyers present during the interview. The judge found that before the interview, sir. The SP had communicated with Mr. Kilaj, orally and in Albanian, all his rights as a suspect according to Article 38%3 of the DHSK Law, and that Mr. Kilaj had confirmed through signing that she understood those rights. Mr. Kilaj was also informed that he could withdraw from the lifting of rights at any time and change his mind regarding the lawyer's presence. Under the law, prosecutors were also obliged to announce Mr. Kilaj was suspected of criminal acts involved in the jurisdiction of Specialised Chambers”, Doyle said.

He indicated that this interview had opposed the defence by claiming that Kilaj had not been informed enough and in detail of the criminal acts she was investigating. However, based on the recording of the interview, the judge had concluded that the interviewers had made it clear to Kilaj that there was reason to believe he had committed a criminal offence involved in the jurisdiction of the court, that the SPS investigated international crimes and crimes related to obstruction of justice, and that any declaration given by him could be used against him in court.

The judge determined that “investigators presented openly at the beginning of their interview their reasons for believing that Mr. Kilaj may have participated in a criminal offence that is included in the jurisdiction of DHS” that, “documents presented to Mr. Kilaj contained not only the kind of criminal acts he was suspected of, but also the kind of information he was talking about,” and that nothing in these exchanges suggests that giving up rights, expressed at the beginning of the interview, was done without being fully informed...”, Doyle said.

In the same case, he said the case judge approved a SPS request for adding materials to its list of material evidence and official extraction of these defence materials on January 19, 2026.

Doyle said these materials are that the Prosecution has taken over the past month from an institute and a forensic company.

In the same case, Doyle indicated that a joint defence request was approved for adding the number of words to their response to the SPS motion for accepting evidence.

Otherwise, Doyle also pointed to continuing detention of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

In addition, it was mentioned that in Kosovo there is a team of the Programme for Communication and Awareness in Kosovo, where activities are under way to inform student groups in Pristina about the mandate and processes in court.

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.