15 minutes agoPandemia has not banned special work, first indictment expected in July
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)The Special Court has not stopped the intensity of the work even during the coronary pandemic. So far two indictments have been deposited in Specialised Chambers, one in February and the other in April of this year. Waiting for their review, court officials at The Hague have told him TIMES Are [...]
Kosovo's “Specialised Chambers are fully functional and prepared to develop fair, impartial and independent processes in a safe environment. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, specialised rooms are continuing intensively to ensure that the court's mandate” is fulfilled, Special Court spokesman Michael Doyle has said.
He adds, however, that they have taken measures within the court to respond to the situation in line with the recommendations and decisions of responsible public health authorities, maintaining the full continuation and functionality of the Special Court. According to Doyle, these measures include working in distance and holding meetings whenever necessary.
July is the six-month deadline within which the first indictment should be confirmed or rejected. The contents of the indictment are confidential and it is made public only if allegations based on the judge of the preliminary procedure are confirmed, KOHA reports.
Depositing an indictment even in time of pandemic, according to lawyer Arian Koci, testifies to the seriousness the Special Court has in fulfilling its mandate.
Koci, who is the defence lawyer of some of the war crimes suspects interviewed in The Hague, says the first court processes could be launched soon, but potential indictees are currently unknown.
As for co-operation with Kosovo authorities, Special spokesperson Doyle has recalled their obligation to respond to any request or decision.
“Supported in the law, Kosovo authorities are obliged to co-operate with Specialised Chambers in terms of decisions or requirements that could have them”, Doyle has said.
Rhese Hoxha of the Group for Jury and Political Studies says that issues that still remain puzzle about special work are whether there will be established and confirmed charges against those interviewed with the aim of prosecution or not.
And if so, under which international doctrines of the same will be charged. It is more important to handle the practice followed by The Hague Tribunal, under which some of the guests of the Specialised Prosecutor's Office have only been tried by this court and the same have been declared innocent”, she has said.
So far, about 250 people have been invited by Specialised Chambers to interview The Hague or EULEX offices in Pristina. Many have been part of the KLA's top hierarchy and former zone commanders.
