Live update

The presentation of the opening statement by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has been completed. The Victims’ Counsel is now presenting his opening statement at the Shala trial.

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has commenced with its opening statement at the trial against Pjetër Shala. 

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

Please be informed that the hearing in the Salih Mustafa appeal case this morning, held before Judge Picard, has adjourned.

On 15 February, the Court of Appeals Panel denied a Defence motion seeking the exclusion of Victims’ Counsel from participating in the pre-appeal conference on 16 February and from the appellate proceedings in the Mustafa case in general. Finding that there is a legal basis for the participation of victims, through Counsel for Victims, in these appellate proceedings, the Panel adopted the modalities for victim participation in this case, which are set out in the decision.  

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 16 February 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 SPO preparation conference in the Thaçi et al case concluded today. Apart from the postponement of the trial start date from 1 March to 3 April, the Panel also ordered that the opening statements will continue on 4 and 5 April, followed by the hearing of the evidence on 11 April 2023 (all hearings will start at 09:00). The target date for the closing of the SPO’s case is set for 1 April 2025. The Panel also scheduled a status conference in this case for 20 March at 09:00.

During the SPO preparation conference in the Thaçi et al. case today, which is still ongoing, the Panel granted a Defence’s oral motion and ordered that the trial in this case will commence on 3 April with the opening statements, and not on 1 March, as previously announced.

As per Panel’s order on 9 February, the Defence of Salih Mustafa today, 10 February, filed a public redacted version of its notice appeal (initially filed confidentially on 2 February). It can be seen here (a further redacted version filed on 13 February 2023).

On 9 February, the Trial Panel in the Shala case decided that the reparation and criminal proceedings will be conducted concurrently in this case and that, in case of a conviction, the Panel will not refer victims to civil litigation in Kosovo courts pursuant to Article 22(9) of the Law and Rule 167 of the Rules, but issue a Reparation Order pursuant to Articles 22(8) and 44(6) of the Law. Therefore, the Panel in this case will follow the same procedure as in the case against Salih Mustafa. More details in the actual decision.