Law experts estimate that the filing of the new indictment against former president Hashim Thaçi, confirmed on Friday by the Special Court in The Hague, cannot affect the final decision of the current trial for alleged war crimes, but is expected to affect the continuation of the detention measure. The same ones show that based on the criminal offenses for which Thaçi is suspected, based on the new indictment, the maximum sentence can reach up to five years in prison.

In the confirmed indictment, three charges were raised for attempting to obstruct official persons in the performance of official duties, by participating in the joint action of a group.

In addition to Thaçi, the indictment also includes the former Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, the former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Bashkim Smakaj, the former mayor of Malisheva, Isni Kilaj and the former member of the KLA, Fadil Fazliu.

Monitor and lawyer Amer Alija says that the indictment confirmed by the Special Court may make it difficult to determine the detention measure in the future.

Alija emphasizes the fact that it is the first time that a second indictment has been filed against Thaçi.

Meanwhile, lawyer Ardian Bajraktari considers the new indictment against Thaçi unstable. According to him, in reference to the criminal code, an essential element of this criminal offense is violence or serious threats, for which he points out that such a thing is impossible to be carried out by a person who has been deprived of his freedom.

Bajraktari says that the filing of the new indictment proves the failure of the prosecution in the professional aspect on the claims in relation to the charges brought against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. He considers that this indictment can be used as a justification to continue the detention of the accused. 

In addition to these, lawyer Bajraktari indicates that the maximum sentence for criminal offenses for which a new indictment has been filed can be up to five years.

The same is said by lawyer Alija. The confirmed indictment charges Thaçi with suspicions that he gave confidential information to Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazli and Kuçi, during non-privileged visits to the detention facility - where Thaçi has been held since November 2020.

According to a notice that the Special sent on Friday evening, all of them are suspected of criminal offenses related to allegations of illegal attempts to influence the testimony of witnesses in the case of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

The information, according to the indictment, concerns the witnesses of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office. 

The indictment says that Thaçi allegedly gave them instructions to influence the testimony of ZPS witnesses and detailed how they were to do this. Meanwhile, two charges of disobedience to the court have been filed against Hajredin Kuçi.

The announcement of the indictment came after the Special Unit transferred Isni Kilaj, Bashkim Smakaj and Fadil Fazliu to The Hague, who were arrested on Thursday during an operation in Kosovo./Mr. Zeneli/