Trial

Following the confirmation of the indictment against the five accused, Isni Kilaj, along with Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu, was arrested by the SPO on 5 December and then transferred to the Detention Facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague on 6 December 2024. Hashim Thaçi was served with an arrest warrant at the KSC Detention Facilities on 5 December, while Hajredin Kuçi was summoned to appear for an initial appearance. During their initial appearances on 8 December 2024, Thaçi and Smakaj did not enter pleas while Fazliu pleaded not guilty to all charges. The following day, 9 December, both Kuçi and Kilaj pleaded not guilty to all charges. After Thaçi and Smakaj opted not to enter their pleas during the hearing on 17 December 2024, the Pre-Trial Judge requested that they submit their pleas in writing by 7 January 2025. On 6 January 2025, Thaçi filed a notice declaring his plea of not guilty. Bashkim Smakaj's not guilty plea was submitted on 3 January and made public on 14 January 2025. On 11 November 2025, the Pre-Trial Judge notified the President that the case file would be ready for transmission to the Trial Panel on 12 November 2025. Following this notification, the KSC President assigned a Single Trial Judge to the case. On 12 November 2025, the Pre-Trial Judge transmitted the case file to the Single Trial Judge. The Trial Preparation Conferences took place on 28 November 2025 and the trial commenced on 27 February 2026.

The case involves four alleged former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army: Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The indictment states that the crimes charged were committed from at least March 1998 through September 1999 and took place in several locations across Kosovo as well as in Kukës and Cahan, in Northern Albania. On 15 December 2022, the Pre-Trial Judge transmitted the case file to Trial Panel II. The trial commenced on 3 April 2023 with the opening statements of the Specialist Prosecutor and the Victims' Counsel, followed by the Defence teams on 4 and 5 April 2023. On 15 April 2025, the SPO closed its case. In its oral decision on 16 July 2025, the Trial Panel denied the joint Defence motion for dismissal of charges pursuant to Rule 130 of the Rules. On 16 and 17 July 2025, the Victims' Counsel presented evidence in court.The Defence Preparation Conference took place on 19 August 2025, and the Defence case commenced on 15 September 2025, with only the Defence teams of Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi presenting evidence. On 2 December 2025, both Defence teams formally concluded their cases, and on 18 December 2025 the evidentiary proceedings were declared closed. The closing statements were held from 9 till 18 February 2026. There are 155 participating victims in this case.