PDK submits initiative to Assembly to amend the law on Specialist Chambers

The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bedri Hamza, announced on Monday that the parliamentary group of this political force had submitted to the Assembly a bill aimed at supplementing and amending the law on Kosovo’s Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague.

At a press conference in the Assembly building, Hamza, accompanied by PDK lawmakers, emphasized that the initiative came as a result of protests in recent days against the judicial ruling concerning former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).

He said that the citizens’ voice could not be ignored and that the Assembly should not act “as if this issue does not affect the Republic of Kosovo.”

Hamza further clarified that the proposal was not intended to close the Specialist Chambers or obstruct investigations into the cases for which they were established, including allegations of organ trafficking, but rather to clarify the limits of their mandate and powers.

“The bill stipulates that if a matter does not fall within this jurisdiction, it should be returned to Kosovo, along with the case file, evidence and materials. Justice continues, but where it should,” he said.

The PDK’s initiative came on the sixth day of protests in Pristina, which broke out after the announcement of the first-instance verdict against the former KLA leaders. PDK lawmakers and other political figures have been regularly seen at these nightly gatherings, which have been held without interruption since September 16.

The organizers of the protests have presented four demands to the Government and the Presidency: the repeal or amendment of the law on the Specialist Chambers; the dismissal of Justice Minister Donika Gërvalla; the provision of unlimited support and sufficient funds for the defense of the former KLA leaders; and the engagement of international experts for their defense.

Gërvalla has been harshly criticized by protesters for failing to respond to the Specialist Chambers’ verdict.

Meanwhile, in a post on Monday, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) lawmaker Avdullah Hoti called for the Assembly to be convened urgently and to adopt a new resolution on Kosovo’s state-level engagement during the appeals process.

“The Assembly of Kosovo and the Government must adopt an institutional position on this verdict, which is a first-instance ruling and, consequently, is not final,” Hoti wrote. He added that the Assembly should call on the Government for “full diplomatic mobilization” with its international allies, so that the review at the second instance would be comprehensive and respect the standards of justice.

On September 16, the Specialist Chambers found Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi guilty of several war crimes and sentenced each of them to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years. They were acquitted of crimes against humanity.

All four former KLA leaders have denied the charges and said they will appeal the decision. / REL