Live update

Following the completion of cross-examination by the SPO, re-examination by the Thaçi Defence, and questioning by the Single Trial Judge, Thaçi Defence witness Professor Helen Fraser concluded her testimony today. The trial then adjourned for the day, while the remaining hearing days scheduled for this week are vacated.
Judge Gosnell also reminded the parties of the deadlines established in his earlier decision, including for the Defence to file notices concerning the closure of their cases and for the SPO to indicate whether it intends to present any rebuttal, by 14 and 15 May 2026, respectively.

Thaçi Defence witness Professor Helen Fraser resumed her testimony this morning with continued cross-examination by the SPO, which commenced yesterday. Prior to that, the witness was questioned by the Thaçi and Fazliu Defence teams.

As informed by the Single Trial Judge, the trial hearing will break for lunch from 12:00 to 13:30 (12:45 to 14:15 in the online stream), after which the hearing is expected to resume with two further sessions until 16:00.

The Defence case started this morning with the testimony of a witness called by the Defence for Hashim Thaçi. The witness, Professor Helen Fraser (DHT-03), appeared as an expert witness in the field of forensic transcription.

The transcript of the KSC Weekly Press Briefing on 07/05/2026 is now available. 

On 5 May 2026, the Trial Panel in the case against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi issued an order extending the deadline for the pronouncement of the trial judgment by 60 days, until 20 July 2026. The Panel found that the circumstances of the case require additional time, citing the volume of evidence and the complexity of the proceedings. The Panel highlighted however that, should a further extension prove absolutely necessary, it will issue an order to that effect in due course.

On 1 May 2026, President Trendafilova assigned a Supreme Court Panel to decide on a request for protection of legality, filed confidentially on 29 April 2026 by the Defence for Pjetër Shala. 
The request follows the Appeals Panel decision denying the Defence appeal against the Reparation Order.
Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen will decide on this request.
 

In a decision made public on 1 May 2026 (and filed confidentially on 14 April 2026), Single Trial Judge Christopher Gosnell granted a request by the Fazliu Defence to vary a condition of provisional release concerning contact with his son.
The Judge found that the reasons for the previous contact restriction no longer exist and rescinded the measure, allowing Fadil Fazliu to have contact with his son. The remaining conditions of his provisional release continue to apply.

A public redacted version of an order on the further conduct of proceedings was filed on 4 May 2026, setting out the next procedural steps in the case.

The Single Trial Judge directed the Defence to close their cases and file notices pursuant to Rule 131 by 14 May 2026.
The Judge also indicated that the evidentiary proceedings will not be formally closed until the outcome of the interlocutory appeal concerning the admission of expert evidence of witness Koen Herlaar is resolved. The parties are nevertheless to be prepared to file their final trial briefs by 19 June 2026, or on short notice thereafter.

Further steps include the possibility for the SPO to file any rebuttal motion by 15 May 2026 and the holding of closing statements 21 days after the filing of the final trial briefs. 

More details are available in the full decision in the KSC Public Court Records.
 

In a series of decisions made public recently, the Single Trial Judge in the case of Thaçi et al. on administration of justice charges ruled on several evidentiary matters.
The Judge declined to admit the expert evidence of SPO witness Koen Herlaar, who testified in court in March, finding that it could not be properly assessed in light of issues related to the methodology and the witness’s testimony. Similarly, the Judge rejected the admission of a report prepared by Thaçi Defence witness DHT-02, finding that it lacked probative value.
 
The Judge admitted a witness statement (DHT-01) tendered by the Thaçi Defence, pursuant to Rule 153, concerning the review of audio recordings and related transcriptions, noting that its probative value will be assessed at a later stage.
 
In a separate interim decision concerning Thaçi Defence witness DHT-03, the Judge found that the proposed report, relating to phonetics, can only be assessed following the witness’s testimony. The evidentiary phase has therefore been extended, including to allow for the testimony of this witness during the week of 11 May 2026, after which a decision on admissibility will be made.