Proposed amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers returned to the center of discussion during Klan Kosova’s “Rubikon” program on Thursday evening.
Rrahman Paçarizi described the Specialist Chambers as a politically motivated institution whose creation was imposed on Kosovo through a law passed by local institutions. He said Kosovo may be unable to close the court even after 50 years, since it is no longer under Kosovo’s control. According to Paçarizi, using legal instruments alone is not enough and a coordinated strategy is needed.
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Meanwhile, commentator Labinot Balaj said the initiative to amend the law, together with the protests accompanying it, aims to politically weaken Vetëvendosje. He claimed that such an initiative and the protests would not take place if the PDK were leading the government. Balaj described the court as having been established on unfair grounds, saying it was “designed to reach a predetermined outcome.”
The draft law has returned to the Assembly after President Shiroka-Pula declined to promulgate it. It needs 61 votes to pass. The European Union has sent clear messages on the issue. Commissioner Marta Kos said this week that the EU is in talks with the government about the amendments, while Ambassador Schuebel stressed that the mandate of the Specialist Chambers must be implemented.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca has announced that the working group tasked with drafting a strategy to support the four during the appeals process will meet on Saturday.
On September 16, the Specialist Chambers handed down first-instance sentences to former KLA leaders. Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years. The defense has announced it will appeal the ruling.
The verdict in the separate case concerning obstruction of justice against Thaçi and four other defendants is expected on November 17.
