The Special Prosecutor, Joshua Hafetz, in his opening statement in The Hague, said that Hashim Thaci had targeted specific witnesses, whose testimony he considered threatening to Thaci.
During today’s session, the prosecution also presented fragments of conversations between Thaci and the other accused, through which, according to the claims of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, Thaci gave instructions.
Prosecutor Hafetz stated that the other co-defendants were Thaci’s partners in achieving the common goal.
“The prosecution will show through the evidence that all of Thaci’s instructions, and many others, had a clear purpose, and the clear targets were specific witnesses whose testimony, according to Thaci, posed a threat to him. The goal was to neutralize each of these threats so that Thaci could evade justice. Each of the co-defendants here today was his partner in achieving this common goal,” said the prosecutor.
The Special Prosecutor stated that Thaci and the others had made efforts to obstruct the court’s work.
The Special Prosecutor said that Hashim Thaci had given instructions to Fadil Fazliu on how to testify regarding Rrustem Mustafa “Remi,” whom he considered a decisive witness for his defense.
“Thaci identified that Mustafa’s testimony was crucial for his defense, and he explained how important it was for Mustafa to set the precedent that other witnesses would follow by saying what Thaci wanted. Thaci gave detailed instructions on how he wanted Mustafa’s testimony to be, what Mustafa should say, how the preparatory session for this witness at the SPO should proceed, and how he should handle it so that Mustafa would return to Kosovo either as a ‘hero’ or a ‘humiliated man,’ depending on the testimony. Thaci gave these instructions to Fazliu to pass on to Mustafa before he gave his testimony. The audio recording shows that not only did Fazliu agree to follow Thaci’s instructions, but he actively contributed to what he thought Mustafa should say in court,” he said.
During the session, the prosecutor stated that during a visit to The Hague, Isni Kilaj received instructions from Hashim Thaci for Witness 4 to change his testimony.
During the opening statements, the Special Prosecutor said that Thaci gave instructions to Bashkim Smakaj on how the SPO witness, Bislim Zyrapi, should testify.
“The main focus during the September and November visits for Smakaj was specifically on an SPO witness, Bislim Zyrapi… Thaci identified Zyrapi by name and said that his testimony was decisive for this case. Then Thaci explained what he wanted Zyrapi to say and how he should say it,” he said.
Hafetz stated that during Hajredin Kuci’s visit to Hashim Thaci at the detention center in September, he received instructions regarding three witnesses.
“He gave Kuci detailed instructions for at least three different witnesses. Two were internal KLA members, including again Bislim Zyrapi, and the third was a crime witness who was expected to testify regarding the alleged unlawful mistreatment of KLA members. Kuci agreed to carry out this intervention and also provided advice on what the witnesses should say,” declared the prosecutor.
The Special Prosecutor, Joshua Hafetz, said that the evidence will show beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crimes they are charged with.
“This evidence complements each other and further strengthens the fact, showing beyond doubt that the accused committed each of the crimes they are charged with. Part of the trial evidence includes nine audio recordings of Thaci’s visits to the detention center. These recordings were approved by court order, and the authorizations were only for a few months of Thaci’s detention and were certainly subject to the judicial office. Thaci is the person who targeted the witnesses and disclosed protected information in these recordings. This is indisputable and clear; he is identifiable not only by the voice in our recordings but also by the content, including numerous facts related solely to him,” he said.
Even in today’s session, Hashim Thaci, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuci pleaded not guilty to the charges of obstructing justice. /B.Ibishi/
