Ministry of Justice: How much money has been spent so far on defence lawyers at The Hague

More than 464 thousand euros from Kosovo's budget have been spent on financial support for lawyers for protecting indictees from The Hague's Specialised Chambers. Four requests by defence lawyers of war crimes indictees from the Special Court have been considered at the Ministry of Justice late last year.

Thus has made it known about Kosova Press, Justice Ministry General Secretary Ardian Bajraktari's duty director, who said that after reviewing these requirements they have been approved after meeting the criteria set by law.

Not giving any details about who this is about, Bajraktari said the latest vehicle execution took place last week.

“requirements have been considered and it has been found that they meet the criteria outlined by law and administrative instruction and that, in turn, has approved the same and I can now confirm on behalf of the ministry that the execution of financial means has been made for the four requirements approved by the commission. The total amount of tools executed for defence lawyers is 464 thousand and 600 euros. The final execution of the payment took place last week”, Bajraktari stressed.

Bajraktari said payment requirements are mainly made for the activities of defence attorneys for participation in court, counseling and other hearings.

While stressing that the budget of the Republic of Kosovo for 2021 on the issue is 17m euros.

“Avocates have put forth their requests for activities that they have as participation in hearings, consultation of all of this, and in turn following the approval of these same requirements are borne to the attorneys' respective accounts, of course in accordance with the legislation in force for public finance management. For 2021 the budget is envisioned with the Law on Budget Breaks this year and is a total of 17m euros”, Bajraktari said.

Ardian Bajraktari, who is also the chairman of the assessment commission of these requirements, said that at the end of last year as a commission, they have considered the four requests reached by the protection side of those indicted by the Special Court.

The justice ministry has fulfilled all obligations linked to the legal and financial support of persons charged with potential from the Special Chambers. From the moment the legal infrastructure was completed and the minister's decision commission was established, we have had a total of four requests submitted by defence lawyers who, after the proper entity's assessment, on the part of the ministry, as it has been found to meet the same formal criteria have been processed to the commission, where at the end of last year it has examined these requests”, Said U.D. of the Justice Ministry Secretary General.

Based on the Law on Legal and Financial Protection of Those Who may have been charged by the Special Court, adopted by the Kosovo Convention in 2015, which says “a has the right to request assistance in covering defence spending and the commitment of independent defenders”. The law guarantees coverage of the costs for lawyers to accused persons.

So far, the specialised Chambers in The Hague have confirmed the indictment against former Kosovo Liberation Army chief Salih Mustaf and a joint indictment against former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, former head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Kadri Veselin, former Kosovo Liberation Army spokeswoman Jakup Krasniqi and former KLA member of the General Staff Rexhepi. They are charged with alleged war crimes and alleged crimes against humanity. While against leaders of the War Veterans Organisation, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, the Special Prosecutor has filed charges for “obstructing justice”