US withdrawal from the process of electing chief prosecutors, Kosovo damaged in integration process

So says Ehat Miftaraj of the Kosovo Institute for Justice, at the same time an expert on justice issues. He told news.net that the KKP is not able even how many years after independence to build apolitical and impartial processes.

“will be an extremely bad image for the justice system because 10 or 11 years we have a non-transparent justice, whether it's the prosecutor's choice of prosecutors at the respective prosecutors. On the other hand, the legitimacy and legitimacy of candidates I think is damaged when the KKP itself is unable to provide impartial and unpolitical processes”, Miftaraj said.

He has also indicated that Kosovo will be damaged in integration processes, but also in the visa liberalisation process, as attracting internationals from this process implies bad image of the rule of law in Kosovo.

“There is no doubt that the US Embassy, along with the Europeans, will affect integration processes, but also for visa liberalisation”, he said.

Furthermore, Miftaraj for news.net said the KKP has the obligation to continue the process of electing chief prosecutors and members of the Council as they are people who have expired.

According to him, the KKP has the last moment to avoid misappropriations and to convey to opinion the message of an independent, transparent and apolitical process.

The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council is obliged to continue this process, because Council members are persons who are out of mandate and prosecutors as well. The Prosecutorial Council must avoid all abuses, any situation of conflict of interest and convey to the public the message of an independent, transparent and apolitical process. If it is done in these principles, it will be okay, but without the international factor the consequences for integration and visa liberalisation will be large”, Miftaraj added further.

He at the end, questioned whether the KKP will manage to ensure such a process, Miftaraj says it is time for the KKP to turn towards legitimacy and legitimacy.

It is the last time these carriers turn their attention to legality and legitimacy otherwise the consequences will be great for the rule of law in Kosovo”, he said.

In the message of the withdrawal from this process, the American Embassy has indicated that: <x0 processes are fundamentally broken”, adding that they have a lack of transparency and have conflicts of interest.

Furthermore, in the response of the US Embassy, the KKP reportedly needs to return transparency and justice to this system.

For years now, the American Embassy has played a monitoring role and supervisory role in the process of selecting new members of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPK) and electing the chief prosecutor. Unfortunately, we believe these processes are radically broken. They lack transparency and are increasingly exposed to the conflict of interest”, recorded in the American Embassy's response. Prosecutors must be elected on the basis of their qualifications, not political affiliations or ties. Buildings in the legal framework of the KKP are necessary for the return of transparency and justice to this system. Consequently, we call on all sides to support the justice minister's efforts to immediately close the Functional Review”, the US Embassy's response said.

The US Embassy's decision has also reacted to Prime Minister Hoti, who has said the withdrawal implies great concern.

“I am deeply concerned by the US Embassy's decision to withdraw from monitoring the process of electing chief prosecutors and members of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council. Their concerns should be taken seriously. Only a transparent process, without any conflict of interest or political influence, ensures selection on the basis of merit. The Kosovo government, through the Ministry of Justice, is working on justice reform, including self-preservation. This process will ensure a system of transparent justice, with internal accountability and mutual control.”, Hoti wrote.

The U.S. withdrawal from this process also alarmed the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, who in their urgent meeting where the only point of the agenda was this, came up with a five-point plan.

“Obligre all the superiors who, in the event they are informed of an inappropriate impact during the process of selecting KPK members and chief prosecutors to report the same, are also prohibited from any influence by the superiors during the high-reported processes; To be regulated by law, by competent institutions, procedures so that KPK member prosecutors do not have the right to apply for the chief prosecutor during the Council member's mandate, and vice versa; KPK prosecutors and chief prosecutors will be elected under meritocracy; Anyone who will influence the evaluation and voting processes for members of KPK and chief prosecutor could result in running away from the race and taking legal action against them; It is recommended to the Justice Ministry that, in the near term, take action towards legal changes, where strict rules are determined for selecting KKP members and appointing chief prosecutor”, the KPK said after the meeting.

It remains to be seen what decisions the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and justice bodies will be to ensure transparent process.