Hashim Thaci Hague Trial: 28 Hours of Secret Tapes

Closing arguments opened in The Hague today, September 10, in a separate case against Hashim Thaci and four co-defendants, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuci, on charges of obstructing the administration of justice before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC). Hearings are scheduled for September 10, 11 and 14, starting at 9:30 a.m., and all five defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The case is separate from the main trial of Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi on war crimes and crimes against humanity charges, in which a first-instance verdict is due on September 16 at 10 a.m. Prosecutors in that case sought 45 years in prison for each of the four defendants, who have been in custody since November 2020, with the trial itself opening in April 2023.

Prosecutors Lay Out the Volume of Material

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office opened its closing argument in the obstruction case through special prosecutor Kimberly West, who, according to Albanian-language media covering the trial, presented hours of recordings and supporting documentation that, prosecutors argue, confirm attempts to influence witnesses. “He was caught,” West said, as reported by the newspaper Koha.

Prosecutor Joshua Hafec then cited a specific figure, around 28 hours of recordings from nine of Thaci’s visits over four months. According to him, Thaci would begin conversations by discussing everyday topics before lowering his voice.

“Visit after visit, Thaci would speak in a normal voice about everyday matters, then lower his voice and whisper to give specific instructions on what visitors should tell the witnesses,” Koha reported, citing Hafec.

The indictment alleges that between April 12 and November 2, 2023, Thaci disclosed confidential information he had obtained during proceedings, concerning six protected witnesses from the main trial. Among them, according to prosecutors, were former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders Rustem Mustafa and Bislim Zirapi, both of whom testified as prosecution witnesses in the war crimes trial.

Hafec cited as an example a visit by Fadil Fazliu to Thaci on July 2, 2023, after which, the very next day, Fazliu and his son Fahri contacted Mustafa. The prosecution argues this was the pattern behind the whole scheme: a conversation with Thaci in detention, an instruction to the visitor, then contact with a witness in Kosovo.

Part of the closing argument also addressed Hajredin Kuci, at the time a member of Kadri Veseli’s defense team, whom prosecutors accuse of sending a message to Mustafa on April 12, 2023, without court approval, in violation of the protocol barring contact with witnesses. Prosecutors have requested that he be sanctioned.

A separate part of the case concerns Bislim Zirapi. According to prosecutors, during visits on September 9 and October 7, 2023, Thaci gave instructions to Bashkim Smakaj and others on how Zirapi should testify, and a ten-page document describing the expected testimony was later found in Smakaj’s car.

The defense disputes the prosecution’s interpretation of the recorded conversations and transcripts, as well as the methodology used to translate them from Albanian, arguing that intent to unlawfully influence witnesses cannot automatically be inferred from the conversations themselves.

Thaci faces three counts of obstructing officials, four counts of violating the confidentiality of proceedings and four counts of contempt of court in this case. The separate proceeding began in late February 2026, and by early March prosecutors had called three witnesses. Bashkim Smakaj headed the Kosovo Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2020, Hajredin Kuci is a former deputy prime minister and justice minister, and Isni Kilaj is one of the founders of the KLA.

Security Ahead of September 16

While this case continues, attention is also turning to September 16, when the Kosovo Specialist Chambers are due to deliver a first-instance verdict in the main case. Hisni Gucati, head of the KLA War Veterans Organization, has announced protests if the verdict goes against the defendants, warning that unrest could spill over into Albania and North Macedonia.

Regarding possible security risks, Radio KIM put questions to KFOR. In its response, the international military mission stated:

“The overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm and stable.”

It added:

“KFOR maintains a vigilant and flexible presence throughout Kosovo.”

KFOR also said it is in regular contact with all communities in Kosovo, including the Serb community, and that it coordinates with the Kosovo Police and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). The Kosovo Police, according to Radio KIM, had not responded to its inquiry even after five days.

Asked how the court views the KLA veterans’ warnings of possible civil unrest, Mike Doyle, media coordinator for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, told the portal Danas:

“The mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers is to ensure fair, impartial and secure trials. The verdict is delivered by a panel of independent judges based on the law and careful consideration of all the evidence.”

Srpske vesti has previously reported on a mural dedicated to KLA leaders in Pristina, which drew a response from Petar Petkovic.