a few seconds agoSpecial Court Confirms Trial Against KLA Leaders Launches at the beginning of 2023
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)On November 5th, 2022 has taken place two years since the Special Court arrested Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. And it will take almost two and a half years, when the trial is officially launched in the case of the great KLA quarter. In an answer to [...]
On November 5th, 2022 has taken place two years since the Special Court arrested Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. And it will take almost two and a half years, when the trial is officially launched in the case of the great KLA quarter.
In a response to the Nacional newspaper, The Hague Specialised Chambers have confirmed that the trial could begin in the first three months of 2023. This, they believe, depends on the time the file passes to the court.
“While the judge of the preliminary procedure has set specific deadlines to ensure that all parties prepare for trial quickly, so far he has not set a precise date for when it aims to pass the panel file. Only after he does this will we know exactly when the trial will begin” is initially said in response.
“However, the judge of the preliminary procedure has stressed in a public decision that he has predicted that the subject file may be ready to be broadcast to the court by the end of the year, which means the trial could begin during the first quarter of next year”, It's further stated in the Special Court's response.
The Hague's Specialised Chambers have denied that the court procedure against Jakup Krasniqi could be divided, even though this was reported to some local media long ago.
As to your second question, there is no indication that the procedures in Thaci case can al be separate”, The Special Court's response concludes.
That the trial against KLA leaders could begin in the first three months of 2023, the president of the Special Court had also said during the visit to Kosovo.
Lawyers seek quick procedures
Kosovo lawyers, who are licensed by the Special Court, have stressed that the trial in this case should begin, even late.
Lawyer Artan Qerkeyni has said that despite the start of the trial in this term, the process has had problems.
“In the two years of the arrest of KLA leaders, we have witnessed procrastinating the process as a result of failing to meet the prosecution's legal obligations within reasonable terms. Also, I think keeping them in custody is contrary to the Strasbourg Court's jurisdiction. Failure to apply one of the principal principles of criminal procedure, the language principle, has also been noted. Most of the court decisions of the accused were handed over to the English language, and they had to be handed over in Albanian”, Artan Qerkuni said.
The other lawyer licensed by the Special Court, Skender Musa, has estimated that the trial can no longer be delayed. However, according to him, procedures can last very long.
Based on witness evidence, it can take a long time, as there are many witnesses and many material evidence that need to be considered. Hence, much judgment can be extended. These have declared that the process could begin early next year. In March the trial begins and receives an epilogue as far as witnesses and evidence are concerned. It must be determined which witnesses are first heard, which later, material evidence, is a large number of them. The process can be extended, but it is necessary that starting early next year”, Moses said, "My Lord!
Musa has stressed that there was great negligence on the part of the Prosecution.
I don't think it's too late, the investigation started much earlier. There's been negligence on the part of the prosecution, and they've already defined the ways they're going to follow for trial. The trial begins at the beginning of 2023, and any postponement after March is at the expense of the accused, since they are in custody. After the trial was launched, the court could see the possibility of being released from custody as if The Hague tribunal, even though it is not sure that this court does act the same, as they have shown faster in the deployment and under consideration of the” evidence, Moses said, "My Lord!
Delays in the procedure had also criticised international lawyers.
Days ago, Special Court head Ekaterina Trendafilova came to Kosovo. However, she cancelled her visit to Gjilan because of the protests that were warned.
However, she held meetings with the minister of justice and representatives of civil society.
