Law on the Specialist Chambers still not decreed, OVL-UÇK warns protests remain a possible response

Gazmend Syla, deputy chairman of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization (OVL-UÇK), has said that protests are not ruled out as a form of response to the Specialist Chambers. However, he stressed that the organization will prioritize institutional efforts.

Referring to statements by the president of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Ekaterina Trendafilova, Syla described them as “ridiculous.” According to him, the Specialist Chambers cannot stand above the state of Kosovo.

“She is going to tell us in which country a detainee can be held for up to six years without a final decision, in which country in the world a prison guard can become a prosecutor. This court cannot be above our state,” Syla stated.

The deputy chairman of OVL-UÇK reiterated that the institutional path will be the first choice, but left open the possibility of mobilization in the streets.

“We always choose the first path, the institutional one, but we will show Mrs. Trendafilova and anyone who tries to trample our sacrifice their place in other ways as well. We will be ready to face them with protests, but we certainly welcome the fact of the working group. Protests will always be on the table,” he said.

Syla also spoke about the approval of the Law on the Specialist Chambers, raising questions about the fact that the new president, Justina Shiroka-Pula, has still not decreed it.

He also commented on the stance of Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“Mrs. Shiroka came there to decree this law. Why she has not done so yet, she is probably afraid of something. We have not yet seen the seriousness of Mr. Kurti, even though they gave their support when they raised their hands in Parliament,” Syla stated.