Live update

Please be informed that the public redacted versions of the filings and the decision concerning Salih Mustafa’s request for temporary release submitted in December last year are now available.

As reflected in the filings, the Single Judge was seized of Mustafa’s request to visit his father in hospital on Monday, 22 December, and on the same day issued a decision requesting further submissions from the parties. On the following day, the Defence filed an additional submission, including updated medical documentation. At the time of the passing of Salih Mustafa’s father on 25 December, further submissions were still pending before the Single Judge.

Subsequently, the Single Judge invited the Defence to indicate whether it wished to amend the initial request, including for the purpose of visiting the grave or family members. Defence informed the Court that it did not intend to submit any further or modified request, following which the Single Judge declared the request moot. More details are available in the filings via this link.

On 27 January 2026, the Defence of Bashkim Smakaj filed the public redacted version of its pre-trial brief, which had originally been submitted confidentially on 19 October 2025.
As previously announced, the public redacted pre-trial briefs of the SPO, Hashim Thaçi and Fadil Fazliu are already available.

Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.

In its latest detention review decision of 16 January 2026, the Trial Panel in the Thaçi et al. case ordered the continued detention of Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The Panel found that the risks that the accused may obstruct the progress of the proceedings or commit further offences continue to exist.

The last detention review for Hashim Thaçi was decided in December 2025, with the next review expected in February 2026. 

Here is the transcript of today's KSC Weekly Press Briefing.

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 14:30. During this briefing, the KSC Spokespersons will provide a short update on the latest developments in the judicial proceedings before the KSC, as well as on other public activities of the Court. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions. Pre-registration is required to attend each briefing. To pre-register, please send an email with name and affiliation to [email protected]. Deadline for pre-registration is every Thursday at 12:00. The Zoom details will be shared following pre-registration. Recordings of the update provided during the Weekly Press Briefings will be made available on the KSC YouTube Channel.

On 30 December, President Trendafilova assigned a Constitutional Court Panel to rule on the referral, filed by Hashim Thaci earlier the same day. Judges Vidar Stensland, Roumen Nenkov, and Piotr Hofmański will decide on this referral, which follows the Appeals Court decision from 28 October 2025 (see here our post about that matter).

On 30 December 2025, the Supreme Court Panel, composed of Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen, dismissed Jakup Krasniqi’s request for protection of legality, which had been filed in November 2025. The request concerned the Court of Appeals Panel’s decision of 13 August 2025, which upheld the Trial Panel’s denial of Krasniqi’s request for provisional release.

On 22 December 2025, Single Trial Judge Christopher Gosnell, having received submissions from the Parties, adopted guidelines on the conduct of proceedings in the trial against Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi, scheduled to commence on 24 February 2026.
The guidelines set out practical directions on matters such as the public character of the proceedings, disclosure, the presentation of evidence, the examination of witnesses, and other procedural aspects aimed at ensuring a fair and efficient trial.

On 19 December 2025, the Supreme Court Panel, composed of Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Daniel Fransen, dismissed Kadri Veseli’s request for protection of legality, which had been filed confidentially in November 2025. The request concerned the Court of Appeals Panel’s decision of 13 August 2025, which upheld the Trial Panel’s denial of Veseli’s request for provisional release.