Isni Kilaj’s defense lawyer, Ian Eduards, said there is not a single piece of evidence that Kilaj contacted Witness Four or any of the other witnesses, as was heard in the prosecution’s audio recordings submitted as evidence, which allegedly state that Thaci instructed Kilaj to call witnesses to change their testimony.

Eduards said that the prosecution’s arguments against his client are based on a single meeting, that of October 6, 2023.

“The prosecution’s arguments against him are based on a single meeting at the detention unit of the Specialist Chambers on October 6, 2023. Kilaj and his friend Vllaznim Kryeziu visited Thaci for several hours, they talked, recalled old times, spoke about the war in which they fought to defend their beloved Kosovo. As you heard, the prosecution claims that Thaci gave instructions to Kilaj to meet with witnesses who were to testify in his case and tell them what they should say in the courtroom and how they should say it,” Eduards said.

Kilaj’s defense counsel stated that there is not a single piece of evidence that Kilaj contacted the witnesses in Case Six, nor any evidence that he met with any of them.

“I will not address at all what Thaci did or did not say. Kilaj does not accept anything regarding the alleged instructions. As in any criminal court in the world, whether in Kosovo, Britain… the prosecution presents the evidence and must prove its case, must establish through evidence that Kilaj is guilty of the charges. It is not Kilaj’s obligation to prove his innocence. Even if the prosecution manages to prove what was discussed during the October 6 visit, there is not a single piece of evidence that Kilaj contacted the witnesses in Case Six. Nor is there any evidence that Kilaj met with any of them,” he said.

Further, Eduards stated that Witness Four, who was mentioned by the prosecutor, has no evidence showing that he was contacted before or after October 6.

However, Witness Four stated that the last time he spoke with Kilaj was during 2017–2018.

“Even if we take word for word what Kilaj said, he stated that he met with a witness one week before the October 6 visit, which was long after that witness had already given testimony in Case Six, so Kilaj could not have interfered in his testimony. As for Witness Four and the charges in this indictment, not only is there no evidence that Kilaj contacted him before or after October 6, but there is positive evidence that this witness was never contacted by Kilaj. Witness Four said that the last time he had contact with Kilaj was in 2017–2018. He denied that anyone contacted him in 2024 to discuss his wartime experiences or to interfere. He denied it again in May and June 2025. That is evidence,” Eduards said.

According to the confirmed indictment, between at least April 12, 2023 and November 2, 2023, during various non-privileged visits at the detention facility, Thaci allegedly provided Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazliu and Kuçi with confidential information about witnesses called by the Prosecution in the war crimes trial of Thaci and others, instructed them to influence the witnesses’ testimony, and gave them details on how to act.

The five accused have pleaded not guilty.