On September 11, 2026, the closing statements phase is continuing at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague in the trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi. All five are charged with criminal offenses related to the administration of justice.
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An update at 09:17 stated that today’s hearing would continue with the closing arguments of the other defense teams. The hearing was initially reported at 07:16.
During Wednesday’s hearing, which took place a day earlier, the defense asked that Thaçi be found not guilty and acquitted of all charges.
His lawyer, Sophie Menegon, argued that the trial panel should base its decision on the evidence, rather than on what she described as speculation by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. On this basis, the defense asked that Thaçi be acquitted of all charges.
Menegon stated that no group had been formed to obstruct justice and challenged the evidence on which the Prosecution based its claims. According to her, the indictment does not coherently set out the forms of criminal responsibility, while the charges are not supported by sufficient evidence.
In its closing arguments, the defense said that the actions attributed to Thaçi had not affected the judicial proceedings. Menegon also stressed that the charge against him concerns attempted interference, rather than a completed offense.
According to the defense team, no concrete interference in the administration of justice was established during the trial, and the SPO failed to prove Thaçi’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense also challenged the testimony of Prosecution expert Koen Herlaar, describing the methodology he used as problematic.
The defense emphasized that Rrustem Mustafa, Bislim Zyrapi and a protected witness, all of whom were mentioned by the Prosecution, denied during questioning that they had been influenced by Thaçi or anyone else.
Bashkim Smakaj’s defense team also requested his acquittal on all charges. The Prosecution claims that documents containing instructions for a witness were found in Smakaj’s vehicle, while the defense said that the SPO had not presented sufficient arguments regarding the conversations between Smakaj and Zyrapi.
Before the defense presented its closing arguments, the SPO requested that all the accused be found guilty and sentenced. It sought a six-year prison sentence for Hashim Thaçi, three years each for Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazliu, and nine months in prison for Hajredin Kuçi. These requests were opposed by the former president’s defense.
Prosecutor Joshua Hafetz stated that, according to the SPO, the defendants’ actions had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt and constituted interference in the judicial proceedings.
The indictment and the Prosecution’s arguments allege that, while in detention in The Hague, Thaçi had contact with other individuals and discussed testimony in his main trial, which concerns charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to the SPO, nine visits took place at the detention center over a four-month period, producing around 28 hours of recordings. The Prosecution claims that these recordings contain conversations related to witnesses and the judicial proceedings.
Chief Prosecutor Kimberly West has said that, according to the SPO’s allegations, Thaçi had formed groups of individuals who knew certain witnesses, with the aim of influencing their testimony. The Prosecution says that the testimony of Rrustem Mustafa, Bislim Zyrapi, Sylejman Selimi and a protected witness was among the matters discussed during these contacts.
Thaçi, Smakaj, Fazliu, Kilaj and Kuçi have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Thaçi is charged with obstructing officials in the performance of their official duties, violating the secrecy of proceedings and contempt of court.
Kilaj, Smakaj and Fazliu are charged with attempting to obstruct officials in the performance of their official duties, as well as contempt of court. Kuçi faces two charges of contempt of court.
