Haradinaj ousted Sylejman Selimi from office following international pressure

News of his dismissal has revealed Prime Minister Haradinaj, and, according to him, Selimi had applied for release.

I have freed political adviser Sylejman Selimi from duty at his request. Mr. Selimi, I thanked him for the significant contribution to my political office”, wrote Haradinaj on Facebook.

Periscop has tried to get an answer from Selimi regarding his dismissal, but he has not been accessible.

Ramush Haradinaj's decision to dismiss Selimi from this position appears to be due to numerous reactions from international representatives, who had repeatedly sought not to be appointed to leadership positions -- individuals who were accused of corruption, in different circumstances, but also of war crimes.

At that time, the appointment of former Kosovo Liberation Army General Staff Commander Sylejman Selimi, convicted of war crimes in Kosovo as political adviser to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, by international and civil society representatives, was considered an unacceptable political act, writes Periskopi.

At the time, immediate had been the response of US Ambassador Philip Costet, who through a Twitter post, had called on leaders of all parties to stop the support of such individuals. “Such support questions Kosovo's commitment to rule of law”, Ambassador Costet wrote.

The condemned war criminals have no place in the Government of Kosovo. Leaders of all parties should stop supporting such individuals. Such support questions Kosovo's commitment to rule of law. I'm glad to see groups from different communities speaking in a common voice”, Costett wrote.

Convicted War criminals have no place in #KosovoIt's government. Learners of all parties should stop suppressing such individuals. Soch support calls into question Kosovo's transmission to the rule of Law. Came to see groups from different communities standing out in union. https://t.co/chVgsCztHa

) Ambassador Jeff Havenier (@ U n SAmbKosovo) Febright 6, 2019

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had declared after the Kosovo Government meeting that “Sylejman Selimi does not owe justice anything to” According to Haradinaj, Selimi “is highly respected by all and there is no one fleeing from justice”.

Sylejman Selimi had been arrested in May 2013 and was convicted of a criminal offence of war crimes against the civilian population by the Constitutional Court in Mitrovica on May 27, 2015, serving six years in prison.

While, on June 7, 2018, the retrial for “Drenica 2” was held on June 11th for “Drenica 1”.

Selimi was released on bail on January 25th after serving more than five years of his seven-year sentence for crimes against Serb civilians during the 1998-1999 war. It will be under the supervision of the Kosovo Sprovatory Service until 30.10.20./Periscopi/