Live update

On 22 July, the Pre-Trial Judge granted, in part, the request by the Thaci Defence alleging defects in the latest indictment against the accused in this case, filed on 29 April 2022. Judge Guillou ordered the SPO to file a further amended confirmed indictment, with a number of additional information to the current charges, by 30 September 2022. The details about the additions can be seen in the actual decision.

During and shortly before the summer court recess, the Court of Appeals denied three Defence appeals against decisions on detention: on 19 July in the Shala case and on 29 July and 2 August the appeals by Selimi and Krasniqi (Thaci et al. case) were dismissed.

On 21 and 22 July 2022 respectively, the Mustafa Defence and the Prosecution filed their final trial briefs.

As announced in our Calendar, the summer court recess at the KSC begins on Monday, 25 July and ends on 12 August 2022. During this period, no hearings are held and some non-essential services are reduced to a minimum. However, the court remains fully functional during this period and work continues across all sections of the KSC. Filings are possible during the recess and, unless otherwise ordered by the judges, judicial deadlines continue running.

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 14 July 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.

As per the 1 July order of the Court of Appeals Panel, both Gucati and Haradinaj re-filed their notices of appeal against the trial judgment, pronounced on 18 May 2022.

On 6 July 2022, the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court, composed of Judges Vidar Stensland, Roumen Nenkov and Romina Incutti, issued its decision on the referral by Pjetër Shala alleging violations of his fundamental rights and challenging the KSC jurisdiction. The Panel found the referral premature and therefore declared it inadmissible pursuant to Article 113(7) of the Constitution, Article 49(3) of the Law and Rule 14(f) of the Rules of Procedure for the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court. Here is the Panel's decision.

On 30 June 2022, President Trendafilova assigned a Supreme Court Panel to decide on the request, filed by the Defence of Kadri Veseli on 29 June 2022, in relation to his detention. Judges Ekaterina Trendafilova (presiding), Christine van den Wyngaert and Michael Bohlander will decide on this request. Here is the assignment decision, made public on 6 July. 

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 7 July 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.

Due to compelling humanitarian grounds, the Court of Appeals Panel had instructed the Registry to manage a custodial visit to Kosovo on 3 July 2022 for Mr. Gucati to meet immediate family. Mr. Gucati remained in detention and in the custody of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC). EULEX and Kosovo Police were supporting the KSC. Mr. Gucati was transferred back to The Hague in the evening of 3 July and has arrived at the Detention Facility of the KSC. The decision of the Court of Appeals is here.