Hashim Thaçi’s defense counsel has formally responded to the Special Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague, challenging the Prosecutor’s assessment that pre-trial detention remains a proportionate measure for the former President of Kosovo. The defense specifically contested the assertion made by the office regarding Mr. Thaçi’s ongoing access to substantial financial resources or political backing.
According to the defense statement, the Prosecutor’s claims suggesting Thaçi retains considerable funds and can easily secure continued support are described as speculative. Counsel noted that Thaçi is currently in pre-trial detention, is unemployed, and has been largely withdrawn from active political life since the close of 2020. Consequently, the defense argued, any level of support he previously commanded has inevitably diminished over time.
Furthermore, the defense cited the considerable financial expenditures associated with the two separate legal cases currently before the court as major factors in this decline. The defense also addressed the concern raised by the office regarding Thaçi’s potential ability to reach jurisdictions outside the direct authority of the Special Chambers. By framing these points, the defense sought to undermine the basis of the Special Prosecutor’s Office’s recommendation for continued detention, arguing that the practical reality of Thaçi’s current status contradicts the assumption of continued influence or financial capability.
Topics: #prosecutor #office #support
