The German Embassy in Kosovo has called on all parties to respect the recent Specialist Chambers verdict and the dignity of victims, as protesters gathered outside the Kosovo Assembly demanding further changes to the law governing the court.
Tensions were reported outside the Assembly on Monday while lawmakers were considering several pieces of legislation. Protesters continued to use pyrotechnic devices and chant against some individuals seen outside the building.
The demonstrators are demanding that the Assembly proceed with a second reading of amendments to the Law on Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. The draft amendments were approved in principle earlier Monday with 91 votes in favor.
Commenting on the developments, the German Embassy told Lajmi.net that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers are an independent institution established under Kosovo law and anchored in the country’s Constitution.
“The verdict is the result of an independent judicial process. It is based on the principle of individual criminal responsibility and can be appealed before an independent appeals court,” the Embassy said.
The statement came after the Assembly approved the draft amendments, allowing the legislative process concerning the proposed changes to proceed.
Supporters of the draft have argued that the amendments are intended to review the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers and strengthen oversight and accountability. Different positions were expressed among MPs during the debate over the timing and scope of the proposed changes.
The German Embassy also stressed the importance of respecting the court’s decision and the dignity of victims.
“We continue to call on all parties to respect the verdict and the dignity of the victims,” the Embassy said.
Germany also said that the establishment of the Specialist Chambers demonstrated Kosovo’s responsibility to address war crimes as an independent and sovereign state.
“By establishing the Specialist Chambers, Kosovo has demonstrated that it is fulfilling its responsibility — including addressing war crimes — as an independent and sovereign state,” the Embassy said.
Regarding public reaction to the verdicts, the Embassy said peaceful demonstrations are a legitimate form of freedom of expression in a democratic society.
“The Embassy considers peaceful protests to be a legitimate form of freedom of expression in a democratic society,” it said.
The parliamentary process on the proposed amendments is expected to continue with further consideration of the draft law, while its final approval remains pending.
Protests against the Specialist Chambers verdicts have continued in Prishtina for around 20 days. Demonstrators have gathered in Skënderbeu Square since the September 16 verdicts against former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. They initially held nightly demonstrations and spent the night at the square for the first time on Sunday.
The protesters have described the verdicts as unjust and said they will continue demonstrating until their demands are addressed.
On Monday, they moved to the area outside the Assembly, calling on MPs to approve the amendments in a second reading. Earlier in the day, some protesters also obstructed MPs attempting to leave the Assembly building.
On September 16, the Specialist Chambers in The Hague sentenced Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison each, Kadri Veseli to 18 years and Rexhep Selimi to 13 years.
