O SEU: Serbian judges, prosecutors' resignation, back to justice

The OSCE Mission to Kosovo has published a report on this Friday on the impact of the mass resignation of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors and administrative personnel from the justice system in the Mitrovica region in 2022. The report notes that their resignation has marked a step back for the justice system.

The OSCE Mission to Kosovo, in a recent report, has estimated that the resignation of Serbian judges and prosecutors in the Mitrovica region in 2022, has marked a setback for the justice system in this area.

Tests from O The SEU shows that this shift of judicial staff has followed with major negative effects on the functioning of courts and Prosecution in Mitrovica.

As reported in the media report, this report analysed statistical data for January 2022 through June 2023, related to the capacity of the Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Prosecutor of Mitrovica, to administer justice in time and efficiently before and after November 2022, when 20 judges, 10 prosecutors and 132 other administrative officials resigned.

In addition, four Kosovo Serb judges from the Appeal Division at the Appeals Court in northern Mitrovica resigned.

In the period from January 2022 to June 2023, the report analyses statistical data showing the decline in the degree of judicial procedures and the reduction of the load of matter from 75% to 59% in courts and from 75% to 57% in the prosecutor. This situation has caused great damage to the access of citizens of this area to justice.

O Mission Chief The SEU in Kosovo, Michael Davenport, has stressed the importance of addressing the issue and restoring the efficient and impartial functioning of the justice system in Mitrovica.

In addition, the report stressed the need for measures to address these issues and restore the efficient and impartial functioning of the justice system in Mitrovica.

Above all, it is necessary, reportedly, to promote the multiethnic justice system.