Eleven years ago, on August 3, 2015, members of the Assembly of Kosovo voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that paved the way for the establishment of the Specialist Chambers.
A total of 82 deputies voted in favor, 5 against, and 1 abstained, allowing the Government to proceed with submitting two additional draft laws related to the Specialist Chambers.
The opposition was the strongest voice in opposing the establishment of the Specialist Chambers, describing it as unjust, selective, and as something that would undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The government and ruling parties described the vote as unfair, but necessary in order to remove doubts regarding alleged crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army during the last war.
The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO), which investigates war crimes in Kosovo, has filed indictments against former President Hashim Thaçi, former Speaker of the Assembly Kadri Veseli, former Speaker of the Assembly and former spokesperson of the Kosovo Liberation Army Jakup Krasniqi, former KLA commander Salih Mustafa, former heads of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, as well as former KLA member Pjetër Shala.
So far, Salih Mustafa has been sentenced in a final verdict to 15 years in prison for war crimes. Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj were found guilty of obstructing the administration of justice and have completed serving their sentences. Meanwhile, Pjetër Shala has been sentenced in a final verdict to 13 years in prison.
The trial against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi is still ongoing in The Hague.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office are part of Kosovo’s justice system but are located in the Netherlands and have international staff.
