The delivery of the first-instance verdict in the proceedings against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, scheduled for 16 September 2026, represents one of the most significant moments in the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The case concerns alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the war in Kosovo and has triggered strong political and social reactions, particularly ahead of the verdict.
This factsheet provides an overview of the key facts and context of the case, the progress of the proceedings, issues related to witness protection and pressure on the work of the Specialist Chambers, as well as public mobilization and security concerns that have emerged ahead of the verdict.
Particular attention is given to the way in which the court proceedings intersect with broader social interpretations of the war, accountability and the legacy of the conflict in Kosovo.
Basic Facts
The proceedings against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are being conducted before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
All four are charged with ten counts – six counts of crimes against humanity and four counts of war crimes. The indictment alleges their individual criminal responsibility for crimes which, according to the prosecution, were committed at multiple locations in Kosovo and northern Albania. All four were arrested in early November 2020 and subsequently transferred to the detention facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. At their initial appearances before the court, held between 9 and 11 November 2020, all four pleaded not guilty.
The trial began on 3 April 2023 with the opening statement of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecution completed the presentation of its evidence on 15 April 2025, while the entire evidentiary phase of the proceedings concluded on 18 December 2025. A total of 134 witnesses testified during the trial – 125 called by the Prosecution, two by the Victims’ Counsel and seven by the Defense. Closing statements were delivered between 9 and 18 February 2026. The delivery of the Trial Judgment is scheduled for 16 September 2026 at 10:00.
Context
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers were established on the basis of a constitutional amendment adopted by the Kosovo Assembly in August 2015. This was followed by the adoption of the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. The constitutional amendment was approved with 82 votes in favor, five against and one abstention. The institutions were established with a mandate to adjudicate certain alleged criminal offences arising from the findings of a 2011 Council of Europe report.
The proceedings against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi concern the period from 1998 to 1999 and alleged crimes committed in the context of the war in Kosovo. According to the indictment, the alleged victims were not only members of the Serbian and other non-Albanian communities, but also Kosovo Albanians suspected of opposing the KLA or of cooperating with the Serbian authorities. The indictment states that the victims included civilians and persons who were not taking part in hostilities.
In the years following their establishment, the work of the Specialist Chambers has been criticized by parts of Kosovo’s political and public sphere. The criticism has focused on the legitimacy of the institution, the way it was established, its mandate, and the proceedings against former members of the KLA, particularly political leaders who went on to hold some of the highest positions in Kosovo’s institutions after the war.
Among part of the Kosovo Albanian public, Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi continue to be viewed primarily through the prism of their roles in the KLA and as prominent figures in Kosovo’s post-war political history. This framing of public perception may contribute to allegations concerning crimes committed against members of the Albanian community receiving less attention in public discourse.
Pressure on the Proceedings and Witness Protection
Opposition to the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers has not been limited to political statements and public criticism. Issues related to the disclosure of confidential information, witness protection and possible interference with judicial proceedings have themselves been the subject of separate criminal cases before the Specialist Chambers.
One of the most significant cases involved former members of the KLA War Veterans’ Organization, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj. In late 2020, the two publicly displayed confidential documents linked to the work and investigations of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. The disclosed materials included information relating to potential witnesses.
Gucati and Haradinaj were convicted in 2022 of offences related to obstructing officials, intimidation during criminal proceedings and violating the confidentiality of proceedings. The Appeals Panel later upheld most of their convictions and reduced their prison sentences from four years and six months to four years and three months.
The issue of possible interference with witnesses later emerged again in a separate case against Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi. The proceedings concern offences against the administration of justice and are being conducted separately from the main case against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi.
According to the confirmed indictment, during visits to the detention facility in 2023, Thaçi allegedly provided other accused persons with confidential information concerning witnesses of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, gave instructions aimed at influencing their testimony and coordinated activities intended to exert influence on witnesses in the main case.
The trial in this case began on 27 February 2026, while the evidentiary proceedings concluded on 5 August. Closing statements were delivered from 10 to 14 September 2026, shortly before the scheduled delivery of the Trial Judgment in the main case against Thaçi, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi.
The cases involving Gucati and Haradinaj, as well as the ongoing proceedings against Thaçi and the other accused, underline the importance of witness protection and the safeguarding of confidential information for the integrity of proceedings before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
Mobilization and the 12 September Protest
Ahead of 16 September, support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi developed into broad public mobilization. In addition to war veterans’ organizations and political parties, trade union representatives and other public and social actors joined the campaign. Calls to participate were also made through mosques across Kosovo, while organizers arranged transport from different municipalities.
The mobilization was also visible in public spaces. In recent weeks, the “Liria ka Emër” (“Freedom Has a Name”) platform organized the “Kosovo Waits” campaign, including a “Waiting Hour”. Ahead of the “March for Freedom” protest held on 12 September, a KLA emblem appeared in the Kosovo Assembly with the message “The KLA Unites Us”.
The protest was held in a central square in Pristina. According to some media reports, several thousand people took part, while other media outlets and participants gave considerably higher estimates. Participants carried the flags of Kosovo, Albania and the KLA, as well as banners featuring photographs of the four accused and messages such as “In the name of the people, declare them innocent”.
Speakers at the rally included representatives of the “Liria ka Emër” platform, organizations originating from the KLA, families of fallen KLA members and political representatives. They said they were marching “with the KLA, for the KLA” and that the KLA “unites” Kosovo Albanians. They also argued that the gathering was not organized solely in defense of the four accused, but in defense of “the truth of a people” who “fought for survival, freedom and the state of Kosovo”.
The political messages delivered at the rally went beyond demands for the acquittal of the four accused and linked the judgment to the broader interpretation of the war and the role of the KLA. PDK leader Bedri Hamza said that Kosovo “remembers, respects and defends the sacrifice of the KLA” and, in the context of the forthcoming judgment, called on the judges to “consider the consequences” of their decision.
The 12 September protest marked the culmination of several weeks of mobilization, but not its end. Further activities have been announced for 16 September, when the judgment is due to be delivered in The Hague. Organizers have announced a gathering and march in The Hague, while representatives of veterans’ organizations and politicians have called on people from Kosovo and the diaspora to attend events near the headquarters of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Some organizers continue to publicly express expectations of an acquittal and have announced plans to welcome the four accused upon their return.
Reactions and the Security Situation Ahead of 16 September
On the other hand, some representatives of organizations originating from the KLA have warned that a conviction could trigger strong reactions and escalation. One of the sharpest statements came from Nasim Haradinaj, a former KLA commander. According to media reports, on 20 August he said he expected an “escalation” of the situation in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia if the four former KLA leaders were convicted. Speaking about the possible consequences, he said that in such a scenario “all of Albania” would burn and that those who celebrated a conviction would “burn in that fire”.
A similar, but more immediate, message came from Hysni Gucati on 13 September, one day after the protest in Pristina. Responding to the European Union’s message that the 16 September judgment would be a first-instance decision and that the parties would have the right to appeal, Gucati said that a conviction would amount to the criminalization of the KLA’s war. He warned that “an unjust decision does not bring peace, but conflict”, adding that such a decision would “create new wounds”, “tension” and “new conflict”.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has also been speaking for some time about the possible security implications of the judgment. On 13 September, following the protest in Pristina, he said that he expected KFOR to ensure the safety of all residents of Kosovo and that he did not believe European and American actors had any interest in seeing violence.
Ahead of 16 September, the Kosovo Police announced that it had taken the necessary security measures and prepared a policing plan in connection with the expected activities and gatherings surrounding the delivery of the judgment. On 14 September, the Police held an informational and coordination meeting at the General Directorate, where the operational plan and police deployments for 16 September were presented. According to the Police, consultations were also held with international partners, including KFOR, EULEX, the U.S. Embassy, the EU Office and the OSCE.
The Police stated that its units would be deployed to protect citizens, maintain public order and ensure that planned activities could proceed without disruption. At the same time, it stressed that the planning and implementation of security measures in situations involving expected public gatherings and a larger presence of citizens are part of regular police procedures aimed at ensuring overall security.
On the same day, the Serbian List called on KFOR and EULEX to increase their presence, particularly in mixed areas and in Serb-majority areas south of the Ibar River. The party urged the international security missions to take preventive measures to preserve peace, security and stability, and to use their mandates to ensure that the Kosovo Police act professionally, responsibly, impartially and in accordance with the law.
On 9 September, responding to questions from Radio KIM about the security situation ahead of the judgment, KFOR stated that “the overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm and stable”. At the same time, it said that it maintains a vigilant and flexible presence throughout Kosovo and remains ready to respond to potential developments. KFOR also stressed that it remains in contact with all communities, including the Serb community.
In the context of interethnic relations, attention is focused on how political and public reactions to the judgment could affect the broader security environment. The information currently available does not confirm the existence of any concrete plan for violence against any community. At the same time, there have been public warnings of possible escalation, increased police planning, political mobilization and heightened attention from international security actors. In this context, the reactions of political actors, protest organizers and security institutions will be important for preserving public order and interethnic stability.
Conclusion
Ahead of the delivery of the first-instance judgment, the proceedings against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi have moved beyond the confines of a courtroom case and become a significant political and social issue in Kosovo. Several weeks of mobilization, the involvement of political parties, veterans’ organizations and other social actors, as well as the protest held in Pristina on 12 September, point to a high level of public interest and the political sensitivity surrounding the case.
At the same time, public statements by some representatives of organizations originating from the KLA warning of possible escalation have drawn additional attention to the security context ahead of the judgment. International security missions assess that the overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm and stable, while stressing their readiness to respond to any potential changes.
Reactions ahead of the judgment show that the proceedings are not perceived solely as a matter of the individual criminal responsibility of four former KLA leaders. For part of Kosovo society, the question of their responsibility remains inseparably linked to interpretations of the war, the role of the KLA and Kosovo’s post-war identity. By contrast, the proceedings before the Specialist Chambers are based on determining individual criminal responsibility for specific alleged crimes. It is precisely between these two perspectives that a broader question remains open: how Kosovo society relates to the legacy of the war and how willing it is to address that legacy through the prism of accountability, victims and facts.
The judgment scheduled for 16 September is a first-instance decision and does not mark the end of the judicial process. Its legal significance will be subject to further proceedings, while the way it is received and interpreted in Kosovo society will raise broader questions about attitudes towards the legacy of the war, accountability and the differing experiences of victims.
The development and publication of this document has been supported by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) program ‘EJA Kosovo’ co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Sweden. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of NGO Aktiv and does not necessarily represent the views of KCSF, SDC or Sweden.
