The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is expected to submit to the Assembly today a proposal to amend and supplement the Law on the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, KosovaPress reports, citing its sources.
The legislative initiative comes amid increased political debate over the functioning and mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers following the first-instance judgment against four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders.
On September 16, the Specialist Chambers convicted Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi of war crimes. Thaçi and Krasniqi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison, Veseli to 18 years and Selimi to 13 years, with credit for time already served.
The Trial Panel found all four criminally responsible for illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder. They were acquitted of the crimes-against-humanity charges because the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there had been a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.
Following the judgment, the PDK has been discussing possible steps regarding the Specialist Chambers. On September 17, PDK chairman Bedri Hamza said that all democratic and legal avenues remained possible when asked about potential initiatives concerning the court.
A day after the verdict, Hamza also met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti to discuss possible steps following the judgment, including the possibility of changes at the appellate level.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers were established following constitutional amendments and the adoption by the Assembly of Kosovo of the Law on the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.
The first-instance judgment is not final and can be appealed. The court’s official case record confirms that the four accused were convicted of the four war-crimes categories and sentenced to the respective prison terms.
The report also notes that, while the judgment was pronounced “in the name of the people of Kosovo” by Presiding Judge Charles Smith, former Dutch ambassador to Kosovo Robert Bosch has suggested that a future president of Kosovo could potentially consider pardoning the convicted former KLA leaders.
