Special Court Provides Witness Protection Details

As long as two years have passed since the Kosovo Assembly has voted for the Special Court, the first charges of this court have yet to begin.

Immediately after the formation of the Special Court, different months had been cited when the first charges would begin, yet this did not happen despite various media reports.

This delay in the Special Court's charges, according to political analysts, may be the result of witness security, but also because of the change of the prosecutor of this court, analysts estimate.

Witness protection has been an obstacle to Kosovo's trial, especially in cases of organised crime and war crimes.

According to reports by international organisations, there is a small number of witnesses killed who witnessed protected trials.

On the other hand, Special Court witnesses have already established a special office to provide appropriate assistance.

Witness Help Office

The Law for Specialised Chambers and the Specialised Prosecutor's Office provides for the protection of victims and witnesses in line with the highest standards of international criminal justice.

The Specialised Chambers and Specialised Prosecutor's Office provides for the protection of victims and witnesses in line with the highest standards of international criminal justice. For witness protection and support, a special office has been established to provide adequate assistance to witnesses who may be in danger because of their testimony, even those who may be threatened by witness testimony. Measures for witness protection and support include measures and security agreements envisioned in Kosovo's legislation, holding court sessions in closed or private doors, giving testimony via electronic means or other specific means, and protection of identity” are said to respond to the Special Court Office given to the “Bota today”.

“also, the Law specifically requires that Kosovo Specialised Chambers ensure protection of vulnerable witnesses, among which victims of sexual and gender violence and children. Among the court safeguards ordered by judges are the appointment of nicknames, visual and voice change, delayed extraction of identification data, videoconference and other”.

In March of this year, Kosovo's Specialised Chambers had published Defense Lists for representation of suspects, indictees and victims, or any other person who enjoys the right to judicial representation, in accordance with the Law on Specialised Chambers of Kosovo and the Guide for Protectors. The number of accredited lawyers is 40.