Parliamentary review of the KSC bill
President Justina Shiroka Pula sent an amended KSC bill back to the assembly on Thursday for review. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) proposed the legislation to reconsider provisions regarding the jurisdiction and mandate of the Hague-based court. This follows the conviction of four former KLA leaders for war crimes involving arbitrary detention, torture, and murder committed between April 1998 and June 1999. The KSC sentenced Hashim Thaci and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, while Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi received 18 and 13 years after receiving credit for time served since November 2020. Thaci was a main Kosovar supporter of the court’s establishment in 2015. Lawyers for the convicted leaders are working to challenge these convictions. Perparim Gruda, a PDK MP involved in drafting the recent bill, wrote on Facebook that "there is no error in the law amending the Law on the Specialist Chambers." The president stated she opposes any attempt to distort the historical truth of Kosovo, cast doubt on the liberationist nature of the war, or equate the people who fought for freedom and survival with the regime that oppressed them.
Dispute over court oversight
KLA veterans protested against the court under the slogan "Not in my name" after a KSC judge used the phrase "In the name of the people of Kosovo" when reading a verdict. The European Union expressed dissatisfaction with the law’s approval, stating the legislation goes against Kosovo’s international obligations towards the EU. The EU finances most of the court’s operations. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos spoke at the Berlin Process Summit in Montenegro on Thursday, reminding Kosovo of its international law obligations. The KSC is a hybrid court, which is part of Kosovo’s judiciary but located in The Hague and staffed by internationals.
| Convicted Leader | Sentence Length |
|---|---|
| Hashim Thaci | 25 years |
| Jakup Krasniqi | 25 years |
| Kadri Veseli | 18 years |
| Rexhep Selimi | 13 years |
On October 14, Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj demanded external oversight for the KSC, claiming the court lacks democratic monitoring and control by the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. Qelaj argued the court should report to Kosovo authorities. He wants the Ombudsperson institution to have access to its work. KSC spokesperson Angela Griep told BIRN that the Kosovo Ombudsperson has no responsibility for the Specialist Chambers. This falls exclusively with the Ombudsperson of the Specialist Chambers.
