Specialist Chambers confirm appeal judges for former KLA leaders, outline procedure deadlines

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague have confirmed to Telegrafi the composition of the Appeals Panel that will consider the defense teams’ requests and submissions regarding the appeal against the Trial Panel’s judgment in the case of former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

According to a response from the Specialist Chambers’ spokesperson in The Hague, Angela Griep, the Appeals Panel consists of judges Michèle Picard, Kai Ambos and Nina Jørgensen.

“On 22 September, the President of the Specialist Chambers, Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, appointed an Appeals Panel to decide on the defense teams’ request for an extension of the deadline for filing the notice of appeal, as well as on all submissions from either party concerning a notice of appeal against the Trial Panel’s judgment in this case,” the Specialist Chambers said in their response to Telegrafi.

According to the Specialist Chambers, the panel was appointed in line with the criteria set out in the Rules on the Assignment of Judges, including relevant experience and expertise, as well as the judges’ availability.

On the expected length of the appeal proceedings, the Specialist Chambers say it is still too early to say how long the process will take, as that will depend on the complexity of the case. “It is still too early to say how long the appeal proceedings will last, as this will depend on the complexity of the case,” Griep said.

She explained, however, that the Rules of Procedure and Evidence set deadlines for several steps of the process. “The notice of appeal against the Trial Panel’s judgment must be filed within 30 days of the pronouncement of the judgment. Within 60 days of the filing of the notice of appeal, the appeal briefs must be filed, while the other party may respond within 30 days. The appellant may then file a reply within 15 days,” Griep explained.

She noted that any requests to present additional evidence also carry set deadlines, including 30 days to file the request, 30 days for the opposing party’s response and 15 days for the reply. After the parties’ final submission, the Appeals Panel withdraws to consider the case and deliver its judgment within 60 days of the last filing. “If circumstances require additional time, it should not exceed 30 days, except where a further extension is absolutely necessary. The Appeals Panel may uphold, quash or revise the Trial Panel’s judgment,” the Specialist Chambers explained.

The Specialist Chambers also said the decision appointing the Appeals Panel is published in the institution’s official filings.

On 16 September 2026, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague delivered their judgment in the case against the former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The four were sentenced to a total of 81 years in prison: Thaçi and Krasniqi received 25 years each, Veseli 18 years and Selimi 13. All four were found guilty on four war-crimes counts — unlawful or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture and unlawful killing — while the Trial Panel dismissed the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office charges of crimes against humanity. The verdict was described as unjust by Kosovo’s state leaders, while the defense teams warned they would appeal it, as Telegrafi reports.