The prosecution's trap for Hashim Thaçi (6 years in prison requested)

2026-09-10 15:58:42Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The prosecution's trap for Hashim Thaçi (6 years in prison

The prosecution had its last word against Hashim Thaçi at the Special Court in The Hague... After supporting the charges of obstruction of justice, prosecutor Joshua Hafetz requested the former president of Kosovo be found guilty and sentenced.

"Thaci 6 years in prison, to be served in addition to any sentence that may be given in case 6, if given," Hafetz said.

In this case, Thaçi is together with Bashkim Smakaj, Fadil Fazliu and Isni Kilaj, for whom the prosecutor also requested a prison sentence, but less than the former president.

At the hearing, the Prosecution completed its closing statement, while releasing 28 hours of audio recordings of 9 visits Thaçi had to The Hague in 4 months, during his time in detention.

"The content of the recordings is devastating for Mr. Thaçi and his co-defendants. The reason is because visit after visit, Thaçi spoke in a normal voice about everyday topics and then lowered his voice and whispered to give specific instructions on what the visitors should say to the witnesses," Hafetz said.

Some of them were released into the courtroom so that the judge in the case could hear them. Thaçi: "In short: no, yes, yes, no. We prepare the evil... Say these things."

"Thaci has made his instructions crystal clear. He tells Fazliu to use his son to set up a meeting with Mustafa and tell Mustafa what to do. Including the following: keep the testimonies short, answer with 'yes, no', 'no, yes'. Keep things short, don't leave things open-ended.

"Use the hearing to prepare witnesses to do their job and avoid slippage. Thaçi there revealed the confidential fact of the time when Mr. Mustafa was supposed to be questioned, for the specific purpose of emphasizing the importance of Mustafa responding with short answers," Hafetz said.

Chief Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West, in her closing arguments, alleged that Thaçi and his co-defendants spent months trying to influence witness testimony in the war crimes and crimes against humanity trial, which is expected to be decided on September 16.


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