The arrest of former KLA member in Merdar, lawyers: Can't protect Kosovo in Serbia

As Serbian authorities continue to ban and arrest former KLA soldiers, the moment they cross border crossings from Kosovo to Serbia, their judicial representation by Kosovo lawyers remains impossible.

Lawyer Florim Shefqeti told RTK that this remains a major concern for family members. It raises the need for discussion through dialogue between the two countries to allow judicial representation in such cases.

This is extremely sensitive, given that the Law for Lawyers in Kosovo, Article 40 has determined that for the registration of foreign lawyers in Kosovo, it must become the existence of reciprocity, in this way it is known internationally, even lawyers from Kosovo cannot legally represent any institution in Serbia”, he said.

All that can be done, according to Shefqeti, is establish contact with the representative lawyer, who appoints justice institutions in Serbia.

The only way we see it at this stage is through the lawyer appointed by Kosovo and the lawyer assigned to Serbia. Absolutely, yes, not only contact but also faith in representation will have to be the subject of discussion between the two countries in order to have a solution. It is impossible because the Kosovo republic's license is not recognised in Serbia”, he stressed.

Serbia's arrest by Hasan Daaj, former Kosovo Liberation Army soldier until crossing the border with his brother, prompted Kosovo authorities to activate all institutional mechanisms.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced international partners and that it strongly condemns the ban, arrest and mistreatment of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and also calls on the International Community to take concrete steps to release them immediately.