Progress Report: It is clear how war crimes victims will be compensated

This report says it is not clear how the victims who have suffered as a result of war crimes will be compensated, but Kosovo has created a law aid fund for DHSK indictees as well as financial support for their families. Based on this, the Progress Report stresses that it is key for Kosovo to address this treatment gap.

Kosovo has established a fund providing legal assistance to indictees in Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, as well as financial support for their families, without evidence of financial needs. So far, however, no financial support has been provided to victims, who have been ascertained by Kosovo's Specialised Chambers for suffering as a result of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Kosovo's Specialised Chambers have issued the first order for retaliatory victims. Therefore, it is not clear how victims will be compensated in the absence of funds from accused or a Kosovo fund for that purpose. It is the key for Kosovo to address this inequity of treatment”, the Progress Report says.

The report says that during the reporting period in Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, pre-trial preparations in two cases have ended and judicial procedures have begun, citing the issue against Hashim Thaci and others.

Kosovo's Specialised Chambers and the Specialised Prosecutor's Office continued to investigate and prosecute violations of international law. During the reporting period, pretrial preparations in two cases have ended and judicial procedures have begun, including the case against the then president of Kosovo and another case involving a former Kosovo Liberation Army member”, the report said.

This report also mentions the case against Salih Mustaf, who has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for torture, arbitrary detention, and murder, which has been appealed to.

On another occasion, the Chambers convicted another former member of torture, arbitrary ban and murder and sentenced him to 26 years in prison. The decision was appealed. It is essential that Kosovo institutions offer full co-operation with the Specialised Prosecutor's Office and Specialised Chambers, enabling them to fulfil their mandate in full independence, without any outside interference”, the report says.

In addition, the Progress Report notes that bilateral judicial assistance between Kosovo and Serbia in war crimes cases remains difficult.

Specialised Chambers and the Specialised Prosecutor's Office investigate the alleged crimes of members of the Kosovo Liberation Army committed against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000.

Currently, several court cases are under way near the Specialised Chambers, including the case against former KLA leaders Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Recep Selimi, who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. /Betimy for Justice