Live update

Due to compelling humanitarian grounds, the Appeals Panel has instructed the Registry to manage a custodial visit to Kosovo for Hysni Gucati to meet immediate family. Hysni Gucati remains in detention and in the custody of the Specialist Chambers. EULEX and the Kosovo Police are supporting the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Following the notification of the Pre-Trial Judge on 15 September 2022 that the Shala case file will be ready for transmission to a Trial Panel on 21 September 2022, the KSC President assigned the case to Trial Panel I, consisting of Judges Roland Dekkers, Mappie Veldt-Foglia, Gilbert Bitti and Vladimir Mikula (reserve judge).

During her statement on reparations today, the Victims’ Counsel in the Mustafa case asked the Trial Panel to order the accused to pay compensation to the participating victims in this case individually as well as the forfeiture of any assets used for or deriving from the commission of any established crimes. The closing statements in this case are completed, which marks the end of this trial. The Panel will render its judgment in due course. The hearing scheduled for tomorrow, 16 September, is cancelled.

At the end of its closing statement today, Salih Mustafa’s Defence asked the Trial Panel to acquit the accused of all the charges. The hearing resumes with the responses by the SPO and the Victims’ Counsel.

The Pre-Trial Judge today, 15 September, notified the President that the case file in the case against Pjetër Shala  will be ready for transmission to the Trial Panel on 21 September 2022.

On 26 August 2022, the Pre-Trial Judge in the Thaci et al. case rejected the requests by the Thaci and Krasniqi Defence in relation to an alleged non-compliance with disclosure obligations on the part of the SPO. Finding that the Defence’s requests do not amount to a non-compliance of the SPO disclosure obligations under Rule 103 of the Rules, Judge Guillou nevertheless strongly urged the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office to abide by its obligation regarding the disclosure of exculpatory materials and to prioritize disclosure of such material over other competing deadlines and materials. Furthermore, the SPO is ordered to provide a disclosure report, by 7 October, with the explanation about the difficulties faced in fulfilling its Rule 103 disclosure obligations.  More details in the public redacted version of the decision, filed on 13 September.  

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 15 September 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.

Today’s hearing in the Mustafa trial has completed. The Defence of Salih Mustafa will resume with its closing statement tomorrow (15 September) morning at 09:30, followed by the comments and responses of the parties, potential questions by the Panel and the statements on reparations.

The presentation of the closing statement by the Defence of Salih Mustafa has commenced.

Victims’ Counsel Anni Pues is now presenting her closing statement in the Mustafa trial.