Doyle: Protests against the Specialist Chambers will not affect their work

Source: Kosovo Online

The spokesperson for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Michael Doyle, told Kosovo Online that the protests in Pristina, The Hague and Strasbourg will not affect their work, because the judges are fully focused on ensuring fair, independent and impartial trials regardless of political developments.

Doyle said that the judges have taken an oath to remain independent and impartial, and that there is also a Code of Judicial Ethics that guarantees this.

"The court is not subject to external influence. The judges of the panels are fully focused on ensuring fair, independent and impartial trials regardless of political developments", Doyle said.

When asked whether the decision to postpone all hearings until the end of the year affects the duration of the trial in the case against Thaci and others, Doyle responded negatively.

"No, it will not affect the duration of the trial. The judges have set deadlines for the remainder of the trial. The evidentiary proceedings are expected to conclude in December. The judges of the trial panel have set January 19, 2026 as the deadline for the prosecution and the defense to submit their final written submissions, and for the victims' counsel to submit a statement on the impact of the alleged crimes on the victims. Closing arguments are scheduled from February 9 to 13, 2026", he said.

He added that after the closing arguments, scheduled from February 9 to 13, 2026, the judges close the case and enter confidential deliberations, and they have 90 days to deliver the verdict.

"In cases where the circumstances of the case require additional time, a further extension of 60 days is possible. After the verdict, the procedure really depends on the verdict itself, so it is hard to say. If guilt is established for any of the charges, then an order for reparations could be issued. Under the law, both the defense and the prosecution have the right to appeal any judgment to a special panel of appellate judges", Doyle added.