OVL-UÇK presents new platform: Institutional debate sought on changing or repealing the Law on the Special Court

Following the conviction of former KLA leaders, the Organization of War Veterans of the KLA has drafted a new action platform. The announcement was made by OVL-UÇK Deputy Chairman Fatmir Sopi.

According to him, the platform aims to turn the organization’s response to the judgment into an organized, professional and long-term effort.

Its main objectives include supporting the defense teams in the appeals process, monitoring the rights of convicted persons, launching an institutional debate on amending or repealing Law No. 05/L-053, seeking political accountability, developing peaceful civic pressure, strengthening international engagement and documenting the history of the KLA.

To implement these objectives, OVL-UÇK plans to establish an Action Coordination Council, which will operate under the responsibility of the organization’s leadership. One of the first structures to be set up will be the legal defense team.

The legal team will review the judgment, issues related to the appeal, the standard of proof and procedural safeguards. It will also draft a Legal Memorandum on amending or repealing Law No. 05/L-053, including an analysis of Article 162 of the Constitution and the consequences of each alternative.

In cooperation with the defense teams, when requested, this team will provide research, expertise and additional documentation.

The platform will also include an institutional team for civic action, a team for international relations and the diaspora, and a team for documentation, history and communications.

Fatmir Sopi said that one of OVL-UÇK’s main demands is the holding of a special parliamentary debate, accompanied by a legal review, on changing or repealing the Law on the Specialized Chambers.

According to him, this demand should be supported by a Legal Memorandum analyzing the constitutional basis, the relevant obligations and the consequences of each option. The process should also reassess the relationship between the allegations that led to the creation of the mechanism, including organ trafficking, the Specialized Chambers’ broad mandate, and the concrete results of the investigations and proceedings.

The platform also provides for effective support for the defense in the appeals process, including lawyers, experts, investigators, evidence analysis, translations and specialized expertise, in accordance with the legal framework. Any restriction alleged to undermine the effectiveness of the defense must be documented and submitted to the relevant institutions.

The Solidarity Fund may be used as supplementary assistance, while its use must be accompanied by full auditing and transparency. In addition, professional monitoring will be established to assess fair-trial standards, equality of arms, the handling of evidence, the reasoning of decisions, pretrial detention and procedural safeguards. The monitoring reports will be published in Albanian and English and sent to the relevant institutions.

Sopi announced that the platform’s structures must be established within 30 days. During this period, the legal analysis is expected to begin, requests addressed to institutions are to be formalized, and the relevant files prepared.

Within 90 days, the Legal Memorandum on Law No. 05/L-053, the first report on the appeals process and the International File are expected to be completed. Meanwhile, within six months, the professional monitoring structure, the international and diaspora network, and the KLA Archive should be operational.

Each team will have a designated leader, responsibilities, deadlines and defined results. The Action Coordination Council must report every 30 days on the activities carried out, responsibilities, meetings, expenses and results achieved.

The OVL-UÇK Deputy Chairman stressed that the organization should not limit itself to issuing statements, but should organize its activities, document the issues and take concrete steps.