Gucati talks about arrest by Special Court

O Chairman The VL-UCK, Hysni Gucati, says that according to information there are organizations, the first arrests will soon take place.

Gucati: Soon They Will Be First Actual

“Diku about 250 invitations are so far from the Special Court. That makes an impression and leaves you under the impression, these invitations that have been received so often and are coming, very soon we will start with the first charges based on the information we have, and on the basis of international meetings, in the conversation they ask us about what will happen if someone gets arrested. It gives us an impression that there will be pre-” indictment, Gucati says.

In addition, Gucati points out that there is no recognition of how many will receive an invitation from the Special, however, even though he has not mentioned names, he says that passports have been taken from some people in recent days.

The passports that some people have stopped, have no right to travel abroad, here's the impression that the first charges would arise. That's another plus. We believe that within this month or by the end of the year or December”, Gucati adds.

Given the large number of invitations from the Special, Kosovo is expected to spend a large budget on protecting guests. Rhesa Hoxha from the Group for Jury and Political Studies says of Kosova Prees, it is unclear that those interviewed by the Specialised Prosecutor's Office are in the quality of suspects or witnesses. However, it stresses that the fund, which is meant for their protection, will be insufficient.

Decisions have been made where a portion of the fund has been distributed for some people who have been invited by the Special Court, but for whom there is no official information, whether they are charged or not. If we continue with this avaz, maybe even the fund that's in store for this case could be insufficient. We always have to keep in mind that we do not create discrimination bases for people who may be public figures who would need help from the Kosovo budget. The previous budget has been 1.5 million for 2019, it is meant to be the same budget for 2020 and 202118x1>, Hoxha relates.

In addition, Hoxha says the Ministry of Justice should clarify when this fund should be exploited.

O Chairman The VL-UCK says it won't be enough for the 1.5 million fund, as long as it points out that this split budget has begun to be exploited, even though there is no indictment.

“Fond is very small with this large number of guests now. We know that these must be protected by law that the Kosovo Assembly has voted, both the Special Court, but their defence. We know that if it happens tomorrow, the charges start, this money won't be enough. We have called for the future government to raise the fund to protect the veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army, such as any state that protects them. That this 1.5 won't come out... I know this 1.5 million is already being spent paying lawyers part of it, but it's starting to be true. A few days ago, some tools were divided for three so far, if I don't miss 100,000 euros”, Gucati declares.

According to him, this will be a major cost to the state of Kosovo, until it is still unknown how much the special interview will invite.

Gucati, while speaking of a fund that is divided for legal protection for guests from the Special, shows that there have been veterans who are in the quality of the suspect and have refused to have lawyers, because they consider themselves innocent, but also to preserve the Kosovo budget.

The Council for Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms had also reacted to this, requiring that the budget be increased for the protection of those accused by the Special.

“KMDLNj, even prior to the adoption of this Law, had demanded that all expenses be covered for the potential defendants, without prejudged, as well as covering all expenses for their close members of their families for the fact that both the accused and the criminal / eventual convicts / as well as the families are being forced to go to another country, several thousand miles away, without their will and contrary to the European Penitentiary Rules and the conventions on the rights of persons deprived of freedom. It is an international positive and affirmative practice that those deprived of freedom and convicts enjoy the right to be as close to where they live and as close to their families”, said the KMDLNJ response.

Two names -- rilind Berisha and Driton Lajci -- who, along with incumbent Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri -- were invited this week for questioning information leaks.

Kosovo Preress has tried to contact Berisha and Lajci, but the same have not been accessible.

The Law for Jurydical Protection and Financial Support of Accusated Individuals in Judicial Processes near Specialised Chambers was adopted in the Kosovo Assembly on August 3rd 2015. According to this law all accused persons have the right to request assistance in covering defence expenditures.

The sub-deposits of this law apply to any person who is accused of alleged criminal proceedings near the Specialised Chambers, including the legal protection of accused persons and the financial support of their close family members for trips that are related to judicial procedures, held outside the Republic of Kosovo”, says Article 2 of this law.

Otherwise, invitations from the Special Court have intensified in the past month, where one of the KLA founders has received an invitation, simultaneously chairman of the court. The PDK, Kadri Veselin, former member of the General Staff, Rexhep Selimi, and incumbent Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri.