Prosecution: Thaçi aimed to direct Zyrapi’s testimony, not just help him

In The Hague, the closing arguments are being held in the trial of Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuçi, who face charges of attempting to obstruct justice.

Today’s session is reserved for the parties’ rebuttals, following the closing statements presented last Thursday and Friday by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and the defense teams.

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which had one hour for its reply, insisted that former president Hashim Thaçi directly interfered in efforts to manipulate the testimony of Bislim Zyrapi.

Prosecutor Joshua Hafetz specifically referred to the visits of September 9 and October 7, 2023. According to him, in the presence of the accused Smakaj, Thaçi gave the witness detailed instructions on what he should or should not state before the trial panel, especially regarding the issue of the General Staff.

Hafetz: Thaçi did not give the witness helpful advice, but concrete instructions

The prosecutor rejected the claim that the messages conveyed by Thaçi to Zyrapi were merely helpful in nature and aimed to guide him toward the truth, without confusing the issues. Hafetz said this does not align with the content of the disclosed transcripts.

According to him, Thaçi’s repeated instructions during meetings with Smakaj, just as in the case of the visit with Kuçi, were intended to determine what Zyrapi would say and what he would leave unsaid before the trial panel. The prosecution stressed that the main focus was his testimony about the General Staff.

For this reason, the prosecution requested that the transcripts be carefully examined in order to understand Thaçi’s true intent.

Hafetz: The instructions for witnesses were aimed at helping Thaçi

Hafetz stated that, through all the instructions given, Thaçi primarily sought to help himself. He said that a large part of these instructions are presented in detail in the prosecution’s court file, where the transcripts are directly cited.

“We ask you, honorable judge, to examine the documentation of this case,” the prosecutor said.

Hashim Thaçi’s defense has 30 minutes available, while the other defense teams have 15 minutes each.