Single Judge Christopher Gosnell has ordered the continued detention of Kosovo’s former president, Hashim Thaçi, in the criminal case concerning offenses against the administration of justice. The decision by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague was issued on September 30, 2026, reported “Betimi për Drejtësi.”

According to the court’s reasoning, the risks that Thaçi could obstruct the proceedings or commit further criminal offenses remain present. The judge considered detention necessary and proportionate.

In his assessment, the judge also took into account the fact that Thaçi has been found guilty and sentenced in the war crimes case. However, the Specialist Chambers clarified that this development does not eliminate the need for periodic reviews of the detention measure in the current case, which is assessed primarily on the basis of circumstances related to this case.

In the war crimes case, the verdict was delivered on September 16, 2026. Hashim Thaçi was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Jakup Krasniqi received the same sentence. Kadri Veseli was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Rexhep Selimi was sentenced to 13 years.

The trial proceedings for the offenses against the administration of justice concluded with the parties’ closing statements on September 14, 2026.

The initial hearing in this case was held on February 27, 2026. At that hearing, Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Fadil Fazliu, Isni Kilaj and Hajredin Kuçi pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

Also on February 27, 2026, the first witness began testifying. The witness’s identity was protected. His testimony concluded on March 2, 2026. On March 3 and 4, Koen Herlaar, a forensic expert at the Netherlands Forensic Institute, testified.

On March 4, 2026, digital forensic investigator Chrisopher Kelly also began testifying, concluding his testimony on March 5. As a defense witness for Thaçi, forensic transcription expert Helen Fraser testified on May 11 and 12, 2026.

Hashim Thaçi has been held at the Detention Facilities in The Hague since November 2020. He is on trial for war crimes, while an indictment for offenses against the administration of justice was also filed against him in 2024.

In this case, Bashkim Smakaj, Fadil Fazliu and Isni Kilaj were arrested in Kosovo on December 5, 2024. The following day, on December 6, 2024, they were transferred to the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ detention facility on the basis of the confirmed indictment and arrest warrants issued by The Hague.

The arrest warrant for Thaçi was served on him at the detention facility in The Hague on December 5, 2024, according to a notification from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Hajredin Kuçi was served with the confirmed indictment and summons to appear for his initial appearance before the pretrial judge. This hearing was held on December 9.

The indictment alleges that Thaçi, individually and in cooperation with various groups, pursued a pattern of conduct aimed at obstructing officials in the performance of their duties. These groups include the Fazliu Group, consisting of Fadil Fazliu and Fahri Fazliu; the Smakaj Group, comprising Bashkim Smakaj, Blerim Shala and Artan Behrami; and the Kilaj Group, consisting of Isni Kilaj and Vllaznim Kryeziu.

According to the indictment, Thaçi directed and supported these efforts through visits to detention facilities while he himself was being detained in the proceedings concerning war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The prosecution also alleges that members of the Fazliu, Smakaj and Kilaj Groups coordinated to influence SPO witnesses during non-privileged visits held on July 2, September 9 and October 6, 2023.

Hashim Thaçi faces three charges of obstructing an official person in the performance of official duties, three charges of violating the secrecy of proceedings and four charges of contempt of court.

Isni Kilaj, Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu are charged with attempting to obstruct official persons in the performance of official duties and with contempt of court. Hajredin Kuçi faces two charges of contempt of court.

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The parties in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi have until November 27, 2026, to file notices of appeal against the judgment. The new deadline was set by the Court of Appeals Panel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

According to the official notice published on September 29, the Panel partially granted the defense teams’ request for more time. The same deadline applies to the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, meaning that both sides may notify the court by then which parts of the judgment they intend to challenge.

The extension is a procedural step: it does not mean that any appeal has been accepted, nor does it change the sentences handed down at first instance. The judgment is not yet final.

On September 16, 2026, the Trial Panel sentenced Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years. All four were found guilty of war crimes, including arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder, while they were acquitted of the charges of crimes against humanity.

The Appeals Panel consists of judges Michèle Picard, Kai Ambos and Nina Jørgensen. In another decision issued on September 29, it also determined how victims will participate in the appeals proceedings. According to the Court, a system similar to that used during the first-instance trial will be followed, adapted to the appeals stage.

Once the notices are filed, it will become clear what the defense and the Prosecution are specifically challenging, whether parts of the judgment, criminal responsibility or the length of the sentences.

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During an appearance in Banjska, where the martyr Afrim Bunjaku was being commemorated, the speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, refused to give an immediate assessment regarding the ruling of the Constitutional Court. This decision found delays in the formation of the newly elected legislature and the failure to complete its leadership structure.

She clarified that her position on this matter will be made public on Friday, after the session of the new presidency. Addressing journalists, Haxhiu emphasized that tomorrow will be the right moment for media discussions, while today is entirely dedicated to paying homage to the hero.

“I invite you to the Assembly of Kosovo tomorrow, after the conclusion of the presidency meeting, to discuss these topics,” she said, underlining the need to respect the figure of Afrim Bunjaku during this commemorative day.

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Sadik Zeqiri analyzed the latest Constitutional Court ruling dealing with the issue of deadlines for electing Kosovo’s president and the constitution of state institutions. He noted that this decision, rather than paving the way for political solutions and the normal functioning of the Assembly, is pushing the country more toward a new electoral process.

Zeqiri explained that the Court clarified some aspects of the matter, but left untouched the legal 30-day deadline for forming the Assembly after the certification of election results.

“The Constitutional Court provided clarifications on some issues, but left most matters as they were already known. It reaffirmed that the Speaker of the Assembly must be elected within 30 days after the certification of election results,” Zeqiri stated.

He pointed out that the Court has reaffirmed the fact that the current Government was elected in accordance with the law and can continue exercising its duties without obstacles.

Additionally, Zeqiri informed that the period for electing the president began on August 6 and will close on October 6.

“Now it has been clarified that the mandate for electing the president started on August 6 and ends on October 6. If we fail to elect the president by October 6, the country will be forced to go to elections,” he emphasized.

He added that this Constitutional Court decision has made it clear to all political entities and their legal experts that the deadline for constituting the Assembly is 30 days after the certification of results.

Zeqiri criticized the divergent interpretations of constitutional deadlines, stressing that only specialists in the field should speak on the interpretation of constitutional norms.

“Constitutional matters should be handled by jurists, those who know these issues well, because unfortunately we are seeing people making mistakes in interpretations,” he stated.

Commenting on the complaint of the Democratic Party, Zeqiri clarified that it relates both to the procedure for electing the president and to that for the Speaker of the Assembly.

“As for the Speaker of the Assembly, the Constitutional Court previously issued a ruling that established a final deadline, which is only 30 days after the certification of election results,” Zeqiri recalled.

“Unfortunately, I see that this Constitutional Court decision is steering the country more toward elections than toward resolving internal political deadlocks and the work and functioning of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,” he concluded.

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Ardian Gjini, leader of the Alliance, has reacted after the Constitutional Court issued a decision regarding the time limits for establishing the Assembly and forming the new executive.

In his statement, Gjini stressed that the constitutional body has confirmed that all the deadlines foreseen for constituting the legislature have now expired.

He emphasized that this circumstance is not unexpected, recalling that his political formation had repeatedly warned of the deliberate dragging out of the process.

According to the Alliance leader, the country is now entering a new electoral cycle, and for this scenario, the main political responsibility falls on the leader of Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti.

“Now Kosovo goes to elections, clearly with a single culprit: Albin Kurti,” Gjini wrote in his public reaction.

His full post emphasizes that the Alliance has argued every day that, from 7 June until now, the winning force of the previous elections has deliberately delayed the process to once again push the country toward the ballot boxes.

Gjini added that the Constitutional Court saved Kosovo from an unpredictable crisis situation on 6 October, a date which, according to him, the party that came first in the last elections was eagerly awaiting.

At the end of his reaction, he concluded that there are no patriotic justifications for violating the fundamental law and that any constitutional breach serves only to hold onto power illegally. He also stressed that the citizens of Kosovo clearly distinguish games for narrow party interests and know how to assess who truly offers solutions for a better life.

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After the publication of the Constitutional Court’s decision, analyst Ilir Deda expressed the opinion that legality has now been restored in the process of forming institutions after the elections.

According to him, it now remains to be seen whether there is any option for political coordination in the current circumstances, which he considers the most challenging in a 15-year period.

In his full reaction, Deda emphasizes that the Court returned the institutional constitution to the tracks of legality and, at the same time, completely changed the electoral calculations for December 27. He adds that, since everything is now clear, it remains to be seen if there is any room for unity in this situation, which he describes as the most difficult of these last 15 years.

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On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo announced its decision on two combined requests, registered as KO256/26 and KO258/26, which questioned the constitutionality of several key institutional processes: from the election of the Assembly Speaker and the voting procedure for deputy speakers, to the constitution of the eleventh legislature and the formation of the government cabinet.

The judicial panel confirmed that the constitutive session of the Assembly was held after the expiry of the 30-day deadline foreseen by the Constitution.

Nevertheless, the court found no violation in the Assembly’s decision of 13 September 2026, which approved the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, considering it in accordance with article 95 of the highest law.

Another important point of the judgment emphasizes the obligation of legislators to fill the vacant position of the Assembly’s deputy speaker without delay, electing them from among the second largest parliamentary group.

The decision further clarifies that exceeding the constitutional deadline for the establishment of the Assembly automatically marked the start of deadlines for two essential processes: the election of the head of state and the executive.

Specifically, the Constitutional Court determined that the 60-day window for the election of the President of the Republic began on 8 August 2026 and will close on 6 October 2026.

The request was declared admissible by unanimous vote of the judges, while the request for the imposition of a temporary measure was rejected.

The judgment enters into force from the moment of its publication by the Constitutional Court.

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Only a few days after the Specialist Chambers convicted four former KLA leaders — Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi — of war crimes, the Democratic Party of Kosovo submitted to the Assembly a proposal to amend the law regulating this court.

Although the PDK stressed that it is not seeking the dissolution of what is known as the Special Court, its amendments would fundamentally alter the scope of the mandate, from the jurisdiction and the time period it covers to the severity of sentences and the fate of cases that would fall outside its competences.

What path is this initiative expected to follow in the Assembly, and what legal and constitutional obstacles stand before it?

Changes sought by the PDK

The main opposition party’s draft law aims to narrow the Special Court’s jurisdiction only to the criminal offenses cited in a 2011 report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a document that addressed, among other things, suspicions of organ trafficking in Kosovo’s post-war period.

According to the proposal, the time period under investigation would also change: from January 1998 – December 2000, it would shift to the interval 1 July 1999 – December 2000.

Likewise, the PDK suggests that the maximum sentence the Court may impose be 15 years in prison, that sentences be served in Kosovo’s territory, and that convicted persons have the possibility of a presidential pardon.

Procedure in the Assembly

The document was submitted to the Assembly on 22 September, but its path to a plenary session requires the completion of several preliminary steps. The Rules of Procedure provide that, after submission, the draft law be forwarded to the Government for an opinion. Then, before the first reading in session, it must pass through the filter of the relevant parliamentary committee, which reports to the Assembly with a recommendation.

However, Kosovo’s new legislature, constituted on 13 September, has not yet established its committees. Meanwhile, the PDK has challenged before the Constitutional Court the very process of constituting the Assembly, claiming constitutional violations, and the Court has not yet given any response.

How many votes can the initiative gather?

To amend a law, a simple majority is needed in the 120-seat Assembly, that is, at least 61 deputies.

It is still not known exactly what political support this initiative will have. The Alliance, the other opposition partner, has supported it, while the ruling Vetëvendosje Movement has said it will analyze it from a legal standpoint. The Democratic League of Kosovo, the second opposition party, has not yet taken a public position.

In terms of numbers, the PDK holds 22 seats, LVV 53, the Alliance 7, and the LDK 18. Minority communities have a total of 20 seats.

However, if the changes were to also involve the Constitution, then the threshold would rise significantly: two-thirds of all deputies would be needed, including two-thirds of the seats reserved for minorities.

Is the law enough to change the Special Court?

This remains one of the central legal dilemmas that will accompany discussion of this initiative. The Specialist Chambers were established on the basis of a constitutional amendment, an international agreement, and a specific law.

Gzim Shala, a researcher at the Kosovo Law Institute, told Radio Free Europe that any legal modification “must not undermine the obligations Kosovo has undertaken” through the constitutional amendment and international agreements. He added that “any change to the law is subject to a review of its legality by the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court in The Hague, composed of three international judges.”

Shala also stressed that to be practically enforceable, these changes must be carried out in consultation and cooperation with Kosovo’s key international allies.

The European Union side did not comment on the announcements or plans, but reconfirmed its continued support for the Special Court. Radio Free Europe also sought a reaction from the U.S. State Department, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Professor of constitutional law Visar Morina told Radio Free Europe that changes “that affect the existence or the mandate of the Specialist Chambers should first be addressed at the constitutional level and then through legal changes.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Amer Alija, an expert on war crimes trials, warned that “amending or repealing only the law could create a serious conflict” with the Constitution and international agreements, because an ordinary law “cannot take precedence” over them.

What is foreseen for existing cases and decisions?

The PDK’s draft law stipulates that procedures already underway at the Special Court will continue under the current rules until a final decision. For those cases that would remain outside the court’s jurisdiction, the document foresees the possibility of their transfer to Kosovo.

Former People’s Advocate Hilmi Jashari told Radio Free Europe that merely amending the law would not automatically result in the release of persons already convicted. Referring to the 16 September verdict, which sentenced Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli and Selimi to a total of 81 years in prison, Jashari explained that their release “would require a decision by the competent judicial body, for example as a result of an appeal decision, or another clearly defined legal basis.”

He added that any change in the functioning of the Special Court must necessarily be accompanied by a mechanism that “would guarantee the continuity of procedures” and prevent the creation of “a legal vacuum.” / REL

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Following the Hague court’s decision to sentence former KLA leaders to a total of 81 years in prison, Endrit Thaçi, Hashim Thaçi’s son, spoke out on the program “Ftesë në 5.”

He said the decision had caused pain for him and his family, but stressed that it would not defeat them, as the pursuit of justice was still continuing.

Endrit Thaçi expressed his gratitude to Albanians from all Albanian-inhabited regions and the diaspora, who, he said, had stood by the family and had not stopped supporting them even after the verdict was announced.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank every Albanian, without exception, both at home and in the diaspora, who has stood by us and continued to raise their voice even after this decision.

Your messages, reactions and words of support, in the squares, on social media and everywhere else, have been an important source of strength for me and my family. Our gratitude is sincere and profound.

During this difficult period, your support gives us the strength to move forward with calm, dignity and faith, using every legal avenue to seek justice.

Although the decision has hurt us, it has not defeated us. The battle for justice is not over.

We will continue to the end with our heads held high, unwavering in our demand for justice and convinced that we stand on the right side of history,” Endrit Thaçi wrote in his response.

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Following a meeting with the branch chairs, the OVL of the UÇK has decided to organize protests in all cities across Kosovo where its branches and structures are present.

In all cities, the protests are scheduled to begin at 17:00. The exception is the Pristina branch, which will join the protest planned for 21:00.

The decision calls on municipal institutions and citizens throughout Kosovo to take part in these protests in support of the former leaders of the UÇK and the values of the liberation war. The OVL of the UÇK states that it supports and will continue to support every protest in support of the former leaders of the UÇK and the liberation war, as long as the gatherings remain peaceful and do not violate the constitutional order.

In light of this situation, the OVL of the UÇK is calling for unity across the entire political, state and national spectrum. It calls for the drafting of a national strategy to begin as soon as possible, which, according to the organization, would provide the former leaders of the UÇK with full support until the Appeals Chamber issues its decision.

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