Live update

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 13 March, 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 indicated in the Registrar’s notification made public earlier this month, Sophie Menegon has already been appointed as Hashim Thaçi’s lead counsel in the case concerning administration of justice charges against him, Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazliu and Kuçi. Prior to that, the Pre-Trial Judge approved the withdrawal of Thaçi’s former lead counsel Nina Tavakoli and that decision is now made public in our Public Court Records.

On 6 March 2025, Trial Panel I denied Haxhi Shala's request to reconsider its earlier ruling regarding the Legal Aid Fee for his Defence. Shala contested the complexity level of his case and the funding allocated for his Defence, urging the Trial Panel to review the Registrar's decision made the previous year. On 13 February of this year, the Trial Panel dismissed that Defence request. Subsequently, the Defence submitted another request for reconsideration of that ruling, but the Panel also rejected it today, concluding that the Defence failed to demonstrate a clear error in reasoning that would justify reconsideration.

 A number of filings on this matter have been made public recently and are now available in our Public Court Records.

On 6 March 2025, a Constitutional Court panel, consisting of Judges Vidar Stensland, Roumen Nenkov, and Romina Incutti, decided on a referral from Haxhi Shala, who alleged violations of his fundamental rights. Specifically, Shala contended that the Pre-Trial Judge failed to consider the lawfulness and merits of his detention during the initial appearance on 13 December 2023, which he argued contravened his right to liberty and security as stipulated in Article 5(3) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 

While the Panel found the referral admissible, on the merits, it concluded that Shala’s initial appearance complied with the aforementioned Article. They noted that he was adequately informed of the Pre-Trial Judge’s reasoning on his detention and afforded the opportunity to be heard, and that, although the Pre-Trial Judge could have been more explicit, his decision does not suggest he overlooked the lawfulness and merits of Shala’s detention. More details can be seen in the full decision of the Panel.

Please note that the same matter was also addressed by both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, as we informed before.

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

Another KSC weekly press briefing will take place on Thursday, 6 March, 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.

After the Pre-Trial Judge's ruling that we reported on last week, the Trial Panel in the case for war crimes and crimes against humanity against Thaci and others has also denied the same request for Hashim Thaci's temporary release. The public redacted version of this decision is now also available in our Public Court Records.

The legal framework of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers allows detained persons to make requests for a custodial visit to Kosovo when there are compelling humanitarian grounds. The relevant judges decide on any such requests, based on the information provided at the time a request is made.

Please be informed that the hearings for the Thaçi et al. case scheduled for the week of 17 March have been cancelled. The trial is currently expected to resume on 24 March 2025.

As indicated by the Panel during the announcement of its ruling on 4 February, the reasons for the decision approving the plea agreements between the SPO and Januzi, Bahtijari and H. Shala are now available in our Public Court Records.

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