Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli.

The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate proceedings on victim reparations and issue a reparations order under Article 22(8) and Rule 168, unless the Defence submits an objection.

The parties have received deadlines in September and October to state whether they intend to present evidence on reparations. Meanwhile, the Victims’ Counsel must submit a specific reparations request by October 14, 2026. The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and the Defence will then have until November 4 to respond.

The decision sets out the following orders:

a) The Trial Panel will conduct reparations proceedings and issue a reparations order in accordance with Article 22(8) and Rule 168, provided that the Defence raises no objections;

b) The Defence must submit any objections by Tuesday, September 22, 2026;

c) The Victims’ Counsel and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office must submit their responses by Friday, September 25, 2026;

d) The Victims’ Counsel must inform the Trial Panel and the parties of any changes to the manner of presenting evidence under Rule 168 by Tuesday, September 22, 2026;

e) If the Victims’ Counsel still wishes to present evidence under Rule 168, it must do so by Wednesday, October 7, 2026;

f) The Defence must inform the Trial Panel, the Victims’ Counsel and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office whether it intends to present any evidence under Rule 168 by Tuesday, September 22, 2026;

g) The Victims’ Counsel must submit the reparations request by Wednesday, October 14, 2026;

h) The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and the Defence must respond to the reparations request by Wednesday, November 4, 2026;

i) The Registry must reclassify as public the November 6, 2025 order, the Victims’ Counsel’s submissions of November 17, 2025, and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office’s submissions of November 17, 2025, no later than Tuesday, September 22, 2026;

j) The Defence must submit public redacted versions of its November 17, 2025 submissions or request their reclassification by Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

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