The Prosecutor v. The Specialist Prosecutor v. Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi
Case Sheet · KSC
The Prosecutor v. The Specialist Prosecutor v. Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi
| Case Number | KSC-BC-2020-06 |
| Status | Trial Stage |
Context
The four accused are former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA): Hashim Thaçi (KLA General Staff member, later Prime Minister and President of Kosovo), Kadri Veseli (head of the KLA Intelligence Directorate), Rexhep Selimi (KLA General Inspector), and Jakup Krasniqi (KLA Spokesperson and Deputy Commander). The indictment alleges that between at least March 1998 and September 1999 they bore individual and command responsibility for crimes against hundreds of civilians and persons not taking active part in hostilities, committed in approximately 50 KLA detention sites across Kosovo and northern Albania. All four accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The closing statements concluded on 18 February 2026 and the case is now in deliberations.
Pre-Trial
| Indictment Submitted | 24 April 2020 |
| Indictment Confirmed | 26 October 2020 |
| Amended Indictment | 3 September 2021 29 April 2022 30 September 2022 |
| Crimes at Indictment | Hashim Thaçi Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 13(a) LSC Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 13(e) LSC Crime against humanity of torture · art. 13(f) LSC Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 13(h) LSC Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance of persons · art. 13(i) LSC Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 13(j) LSC War crimes Murder · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Cruel treatment · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Torture · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC Kadri Veseli Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 13(a) LSC Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 13(e) LSC Crime against humanity of torture · art. 13(f) LSC Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 13(h) LSC Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance of persons · art. 13(i) LSC Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 13(j) LSC War crimes Murder · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Cruel treatment · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Torture · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC Rexhep Selimi Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 13(a) LSC Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 13(e) LSC Crime against humanity of torture · art. 13(f) LSC Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 13(h) LSC Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance of persons · art. 13(i) LSC Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 13(j) LSC War crimes Murder · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Cruel treatment · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Torture · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC Jakup Krasniqi Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 13(a) LSC Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 13(e) LSC Crime against humanity of torture · art. 13(f) LSC Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 13(h) LSC Crime against humanity of enforced disappearance of persons · art. 13(i) LSC Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 13(j) LSC War crimes Murder · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Cruel treatment · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Torture · art. 14(1)(c)(i) LSC Illegal and arbitrary arrest and detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC |
| Arrest Warrant Issued | 26 October 2020 |
| Arrest | Hashim Thaçi 4 November 2020 Kadri Veseli 4 November 2020 Rexhep Selimi 4 November 2020 Jakup Krasniqi 4 November 2020 |
| Initial Appearance | Hashim Thaçi 9 November 2020 · Plea: Not Guilty Kadri Veseli 10 November 2020 · Plea: Not Guilty Rexhep Selimi 10 November 2020 · Plea: Not Guilty Jakup Krasniqi 9 November 2020 · Plea: Not Guilty |
| Case Transmitted to Trial Panel | 15 December 2022 · Trial Panel II |
Trial
| Trial Panel | Trial Panel II · Judges: Judges Charles Smith III (Presiding), Christoph Barthe, Guénaël Mettraux, Fergal Gaynor (Reserve judge) |
| Trial Opening | 3 April 2023 |
Key Documents
| Arrest Warrant (Thaçi) | Arrest Warrant (2020) |
| Arrest Warrant (Veseli) | Arrest Warrant (2020) |
| Arrest Warrant (Selimi) | Arrest Warrant (2020) |
| Arrest Warrant (Krasniqi) | Arrest Warrant (2020) |
| Confirmation of Indictment Decision | Decision on Confirmation of the Indictment (2020) |
| Operative Indictment | Operative Indictment (2023) |
| KSC Case Page | Official KSC page |