Michèle Picard appointed to head the Appeals Panel in the Thaçi and others case in The Hague

French Judge Michèle Picard has been appointed to preside over the Appeals Panel in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

The Specialist Chambers announced the composition of the panel on 29 September, as part of decisions concerning the conduct of the appeal and the participation of victims. Alongside Picard, the panel includes Judges Kai Ambos and Nina Jørgensen. This panel will examine issues related to the notices of appeal against the first-instance judgment.

The judgment was pronounced on 16 September 2026. In it, Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi were found guilty of several war crimes and sentenced, respectively, to 25, 18, 13 and 25 years in prison.

The deadline for the notices of appeal is 27 November 2026. In a decision issued on 29 September, the Appeals Panel partially granted the Defence teams’ request for more time. The extension also applies to the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, meaning that both the Defence and the SPO must file their notices by that date.

According to the Specialist Chambers, the Defence teams for the four accused jointly submitted the request to extend the deadline on 22 September.

In another decision dated 29 September, the Appeals Panel also set out the conditions for the participation of victims. A regime similar to that used during the first-instance trial will be followed, adapted to the appeals phase. Their participation will focus only on issues affecting their personal interests and may not prejudice the rights of the accused.

The victims will continue to be represented by Victims’ Counsel. Counsel will have access to the case file, including submissions, transcripts and evidence, in accordance with the relevant confidentiality rules. Counsel may also take part in appeal hearings, except where the Panel decides otherwise.

The Specialist Chambers have confirmed that 156 victims participated in the trial against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi. Following the appointment of the panel and the setting of deadlines for the notices of appeal, the case has moved into the phase following the first-instance judgment. The panel comprising Picard, Ambos and Jørgensen will oversee the appeal in one of the most significant cases before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.