Angela Griep, the Spokesperson for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC), clarified the court’s legal parameters in a video address published on the institution’s official account on X (formerly Twitter).
Griep emphasized that the Hague-based Special Court does not hold an exclusive mandate to prosecute every single crime committed during the recent war in Kosovo. She noted that some crimes have already been tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), while others have been handled by alternative judicial systems or are still awaiting rulings.
A Defined Legal Mandate
According to the spokesperson, the institution operates under a distinct and limited scope of authority, which was carefully defined during its creation.
“The Specialist Chambers were granted a specific mandate by both the State of Kosovo and the European Union,” Griep explained, noting that the court is not a blanket authority for all wartime atrocities.
Commitment to Legal Integrity
Despite the limitations on its jurisdiction, Griep reassured the public of the court’s dedication to upholding the highest international standards of justice for the cases that do fall under its purview.
- Fair Trials: For every indictment that has been formally confirmed, the court will guarantee an impartial, fair, and independent trial.
- Defense Rights: The legal rights of all accused individuals will be fully protected throughout the judicial process.
- Protection and Representation: The court’s framework ensures that witnesses are strictly protected and that victims are given a voice to share their testimonies.
