After more than five years of judicial proceedings, the trial of former President Hashim Thaçi, former parliamentary speakers Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and former MP Rexhep Selimi appears to be nearing its end. The closing statements have been scheduled for February 2026, while the first-instance verdict is expected to be announced between April and May.

The process, which began in April 2023 and included 227 hearings, heard testimony from over 125 witnesses of the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor and 117 written testimonies, as well as two witnesses for the victims’ counsel. In September, seven defense witnesses testified, including former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin and retired U.S. General Wesley Clark, who provided direct insight into developments during the war.

Monitors from the Humanitarian Law Center and the Kosovo Institute of Justice assess that the defense testimonies—arguing that the KLA did not have a structured military command and that Thaçi’s role was political—carry significant weight and may influence the verdict for the four defendants.