The Managing Partner of Hodaj & Partners, Mr. Taulant Hodaj, in an interview with T7 regarding the latest developments in the trial of former President Hashim Thaçi, spoke about the withdrawal of the defense lawyers, emphasizing that, in principle, such a change in defense is not ideal, but he also offered solutions for a stronger and more prepared defense.
The withdrawal of Thaçi’s defense lawyers, according to Mr. Hodaj, is concerning for the process, as this is not the first time something like this has happened. He emphasized that so far, three main lawyers, along with several others who have been involved since the beginning of the trial, have withdrawn. “So far, three main lawyers are withdrawing along with several others, meaning from the start of the process,” stated Hodaj.
Lawyers have the right to withdraw from a case when the client is unable to fulfill financial obligations towards them. In this case, it appears that there was a mutual agreement between the lawyers and former President Thaçi for their withdrawal due to financial difficulties. “Of course, the lawyers had the right and still have the right to withdraw if the client cannot meet the terms of the agreement in this case,” added Hodaj.
Mr. Hodaj emphasized that the withdrawal of the lawyers can be harmful to the process, especially when it occurs in the middle of judicial proceedings. However, he added that the current lawyers will be available to the new lawyers to ensure a smooth transition and avoid any gaps in representation. “Until the new lawyers become familiar with the case, the current ones will be available to assist them,” said Hodaj.
Although the withdrawal of lawyers is often not beneficial for the process, Mr. Hodaj noted that sometimes a change in the defense team can bring advantages. He believes that the new lawyers may be better prepared and contribute more effectively to Thaçi’s defense. “Sometimes the change of lawyers is good for the process, but usually it is not… however, this remains to be seen,” Hodaj stated.
Regarding the financing of Thaçi’s defense, the Ministry of Justice has made payments exceeding 3.5 million euros to lawyer Luka Mishetiq and several other lawyers, but some lawyers have not been paid due to the lack of formal agreements. “The Ministry of Justice, in Thaçi’s case, has an agreement with lawyer Luka Mishetiq, while on the other side, there are other lawyers involved in the representation, with Mishetiq also being part of the team,” explained Hodaj.
The Ministry has made some changes to the Administrative Instruction regarding defense funds, introducing new payment restrictions. These changes are still under discussion and have not yet come into effect, but they are expected to have a significant impact on the payment process for lawyers in such cases.
