Kosovo Specialist Chambers: Judgment in Thaci contempt case to be delivered on November 17

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced today that the judgment against Hashim Thaci and four other defendants in the case concerning obstruction of justice will be delivered on November 17.

The Specialist Chambers announced the date for delivery of the judgment in a post on the social media platform X.

In addition to Thaci, four other former KLA members are charged in the contempt of court case—Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuci.

In its closing submission on September 25, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague requested that Thaci be sentenced to six years in prison and that the time he has spent in detention not be credited toward that sentence. The prosecution also sought three-year prison sentences for Bashkim Smakaj,

Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazliu, and a nine-month prison sentence for Hajredin Kuci.

According to the indictment, between April 12 and November 2, 2023, during separate non-privileged visits at the detention facility, Hashim Thaci provided Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazliu and Kuci with confidential information concerning prosecution witnesses in a separate case against him in which he is charged with war crimes.

Thaci is accused of instructing them to influence prosecution witnesses and providing them with detailed directions on how to do so.

According to the indictment, Thaci faces three counts of attempting to obstruct an official in the performance of official duties through participation in the common action of a group, four counts of violating the secrecy of proceedings and four counts of contempt of court.

Smakaj, Fazliu and Kilaj are charged with attempting to obstruct officials in the performance of their official duties and with contempt of court, while Kuci is charged with contempt of court.