The Specialist Chambers of Kosovo recently posted a statement on their official X account, claiming that judges in The Hague ensure that the rights of the accused are fully respected in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and the European Convention on Human Rights.
In response, the Organization of Kosovo UÇK War Veterans (OVL-UÇK) criticized the statement, asserting that the reality of the judicial process does not match the claims of full rights compliance.
“Do not attempt to deceive our people with such statements, suggesting that the rights of the accused and the Constitution of Kosovo have been fully respected during this process,” the OVL-UÇK said in its reaction.
The organization emphasized that Kosovar citizens have witnessed over the years how the rights of the accused have been treated:
“The people of Kosovo clearly understand, after all these years, how often fundamental human rights have been violated and how the Constitution of our country has truly been respected,” the statement reads.
OVL-UÇK also questioned the continued pre-trial detention of former UÇK members currently on trial in The Hague:
“If, as you declare, the judicial process is nearing its conclusion, then why are our former fighters not allowed to await the final verdict at home, with their families and their people?” the statement asks.
The organization added that holding the accused in prolonged detention is difficult to justify if the trial is indeed in its final stages:
“How can their indefinite detention be justified when the court itself states that the trial is in the concluding phase? This question requires a clear answer, not formal statements about rights compliance,” OVL-UÇK stressed.
Finally, the veterans group reiterated that their demand is simply for equal justice and standards consistent with democratic judicial systems:
“We seek nothing more than true justice and equal standards, as applied in any other democratic judicial system,” the statement concluded.
