The parties in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi have until November 27, 2026, to file notices of appeal against the judgment. The new deadline was set by the Court of Appeals Panel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
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According to the official notice published on September 29, the Panel partially granted the defense teams’ request for more time. The same deadline applies to the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, meaning that both sides may notify the court by then which parts of the judgment they intend to challenge.
The extension is a procedural step: it does not mean that any appeal has been accepted, nor does it change the sentences handed down at first instance. The judgment is not yet final.
On September 16, 2026, the Trial Panel sentenced Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years. All four were found guilty of war crimes, including arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder, while they were acquitted of the charges of crimes against humanity.
The Appeals Panel consists of judges Michèle Picard, Kai Ambos and Nina Jørgensen. In another decision issued on September 29, it also determined how victims will participate in the appeals proceedings. According to the Court, a system similar to that used during the first-instance trial will be followed, adapted to the appeals stage.
Once the notices are filed, it will become clear what the defense and the Prosecution are specifically challenging, whether parts of the judgment, criminal responsibility or the length of the sentences.
