The Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization (OVL-UÇK) has expressed “deep concern” over recent developments at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, strongly criticizing the treatment of the detained former KLA leaders.
In a statement, OVL-UÇK highlighted the refusal by Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi to meet with the Ombudsperson of the Specialist Chambers, describing it as a clear reflection of their “disappointment and the disregard they have experienced from an institution that is supposed to protect their rights but has remained silent in the face of serious violations.”
The statement points to what it calls “extreme restrictions” on meetings with lawyers and “arbitrary interference” in preparing legal defense, saying these measures constitute serious violations of human rights and the right to a fair trial. It also criticized the allegedly unscheduled and unsuitable conditions in which legal meetings are held, significantly undermining the defense process.
The Ombudsperson of Kosovo had previously raised concerns about prolonged detention and the lack of fair decisions regarding provisional release, which, according to OVL-UÇK, “do not meet international human rights standards and represent undignified treatment.”
OVL-UÇK Calls for the Following Actions:
Immediate end to inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees.
Uninterrupted and full access to legal defense must be ensured without delay.
The Ombudsperson of the Specialist Chambers must take a public stance on the violations and not remain silently complicit.
Immediate review of detention conditions and serious consideration of temporary release for the detainees.
“KLA fighters did not fight for one-sided justice, endless detentions, or to be humiliated in the name of a justice system that remains silent in the face of injustice. True justice begins with the respect for human dignity,” the statement concludes.
