Live update

On 21 June 2023, the Court of Appeals Panel denied the appeals, filed by two groups of individuals, against the decision of the Trial Panel (from 20 February 2023) denying their application to participate as victims in the Thaçi et al. case. Here is the full decision of the Court of Appeals Panel.

The Trial Panel in the Thaçi et al. case granted in part a motion by the SPO and ordered the exclusion of a member of one Defence team from the courtroom during the testimony of witnesses with protective measures. The Panel also reminded the parties of the relevant part of the Order on the Conduct of Proceedings  (“Attendance in court shall in principle be limited to Counsel and case managers. Where a Party wishes to bring in the courtroom another team member, it shall give 24-hour advance notice to all Parties and participants, to the Registry and to the Trial Panel”).

More details in the full decision.

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 22 June 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.

The status conference is completed and the hearing, previously scheduled for tomorrow (21 June), is cancelled. The Thaçi et al. trial will resume on 10 July at 09:00.

Following the testimony of the 11th  SPO witness, today’s evidentiary hearing in the Thaçi et al. case has adjourned. As proposed by the Panel, a status conference is taking place now to discuss steps to ensure a greater degree of publicity of the proceedings (a matter already mentioned during the hearing on 17 May).

The testimony of the 11th SPO witness resumed this morning. The witness, who is testifying video-link, is currently still being examined by the SPO.

Following the completion of testimony of witness W03540, the Prosecution in the Thaçi et al. case called its 11th witness today. Witness W03811, who is also protected, is testifying via video-link.

During the hearing today (19 June), the Panel in the Thaçi et al case, given the target date for the end of the SPO case (April 2025), expressed its concern about the current pace of the in-court testimony. Realizing that about 120 hours has been spent on the testimony of only 10 witnesses, the Panel reminded the parties that it is unnecessary to question witnesses extensively on undisputed matters. On this basis, the Panel expressed its belief that the SPO could considerably reduce time needed for examination-in-chief while the Defence was ordered to reassess its time estimates for the cross-examination of the upcoming witnesses.

The 10th Prosecution’s witness at the trial against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi is protected witness W03540, who is testifying with facial distortion.

Following the completion of the testimony of the 8th Prosecution’s witness, the trial against Pjetër Shala is adjourned for the week and will resume on 26 June at 09:30. At the end of today’s hearing, the Panel issued an oral order setting, inter alia, 6 July 2023 as the target date for the closing of the SPO case. Subject to the outcome of the Defence’s Rule 130 motion (for dismissal of charges), if any, 21 or 22 August has been set for the commencement of evidence to be called by the Victims’ Counsel, if any, immediately followed by the Defence preparation conference (during the same week). The Panel set 18 September 2023 as the target date for the opening of the Defence case (if any).