The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague will announce the verdict on November 17 in the case against former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and four other defendants for criminal offenses against the administration of justice.
According to a court announcement Monday, the sole judge in the case, Charles L. Gosnell, scheduled the verdict for 10 a.m.
In this case, in addition to Thaçi, the accused are Bashkim Smakaj, former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), Isni Kilaj, former mayor of Malisheva, Fadil Fazliu and Hajredin Kuçi, former Minister of Justice.
All five defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
During closing statements in September, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office (SPO) requested that Thaçi be found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison.
For Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazliu, the Prosecution requested three years in prison for each, while for Hajredin Kuçi it requested nine months in prison.
The prosecution argued that attempts to interfere with witness testimony pose a threat to the administration of justice.
On the other hand, Thaçi's defense requested his release, arguing that the Prosecution had not presented evidence that justified the requested sentence.
According to the indictment, during 2023, Thaçi had provided visitors to the detention center in The Hague with confidential information about witnesses in his war crimes trial and instructed them on how to influence their testimonies.
The prosecution claims that other defendants were also involved in this process, who allegedly helped convey instructions to witnesses.
During the start of the trial, in February 2026, the Prosecution also released audio recordings of Thaçi's meetings with visitors in detention, which, according to it, supported allegations of attempts to influence witness testimonies.
The obstruction of justice case is separate from the main trial against Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selim for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war in Kosovo.
In that case, on September 16, the Special Court found the four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army guilty of several war crimes charges, while acquitting them of charges of crimes against humanity.
Thaçi and Krasniqi were sentenced to 25 years in prison each, Veseli to 18 years, and Selimi to 13 years in prison. The decision is of first instance and the defense has announced appeals.
The prosecution has requested that, if Thaçi is also found guilty of obstruction of justice, the six-year prison sentence in this case be served after the sentence imposed in the war crimes case, and not at the same time - that is, that the prison terms be counted one after the other.
