Live update

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. 

On 1 July, the Court of Appeals Panel, due to, inter alia, a non-compliance with the requirements of a relevant Practice Direction, struck in its entirety the Haradinaj’s notice of appeal and ordered him to re-file it within one week from the date of receipt of this decision. As for Gucati’s notice of appeal, the Panel struck only ground 18 and ordered him to re-file his notice of appeal within the same deadline, should he wish to maintain the content of that ground. Lastly, the Panel reminded that the appeal briefs are to be filed by 19 August 2022. More details in the decision.

As announced in our Court Calendar, next Status Conference in the case against Thaci, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi is scheduled for 13 July at 13:30. More details in the scheduling order.

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 30 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.

On 22 June, Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals Panel Michèle Picard, pursuant to Rule 178 of the Rules, scheduled a pre-appeal conference in the Gucati & Haradinaj case for 5 July 2022 at 14:00. More details in the scheduling order.

On 20 June 2022, Trial Panel I closed the evidentiary proceedings in the Mustafa case, ordered the parties to submit their final trial briefs by 21 July and scheduled the closing statements to take place from 13 until 15 September (with 16 September as a reserve day). Here is the full order.