Thaci's legal protection continues to have trouble

Failure to fulfil financial obligations to lawyers has prompted Hashim Thaci's legal protection, charged with war crimes by the Special Court, to be reduced to a lawyer after a month.

The justice ministry has paid Thaci's defence team over 3.5m euros, but that amount seems insufficient.

In a media communiqué days ago, Hashim Thaci's “foundation for the Jury Protection of Thaci” voiced concern about the Ministry of Justice's new administrative direction and the interruption of Thaci's defence team contract.

After a month, former Kosovo president Hashim Thaci will be protected by only one lawyer.

That is after Thaci's defence team, led by chief lawyer Gregory Kehoe, has called for his withdrawal from his representation in the Specialised Chambers in The Hague.

The cause of this has become a failure to fulfill financial obligations.

Although the Ministry of Justice has paid Thaci's defence team over 3.5m euros, it seems insufficient.

In this regard, the MDD has said it is done in line with legislation in force and that the payment is made only for the lawyers with whom it has agreements.

But this minister, according to the new Administrative Guidance Co-ordination, which has concluded public consultation on January 30th, envisions categories and payment limits for defence lawyers on the basis of the highest value amounting to 110 thousand euros per month.

For this, accredited lawyers in Specialised Chambers in The Hague say changes in the guidelines could affect the judicial process towards Thaci and others.

The “could influence because lawyers even in the past even now their demands have been too big for MD's and normal payments that will make it difficult for their clients and lawyers if they don't and then they should see a different alternative either by their own funds or by the court that, according to official duty, financed their defenders”, said Taulant Hodaj, a lawyer.

This is not the first time Thaci's lawyers have withdrawn and this, according to Hodaj, is interesting.

This is interesting, but it is being conveyed by Thaci lawyers who have resigned and this is not good for the” process, said Hodaj.

Meanwhile, in a media communiqué days ago, Hashim Thaci's “Support for Jury Protection has voiced concern about the Ministry of Justice's new Administrative Guide and the break of Thaci's defence team contract.

For This Guidance The MD has also reacted to the Human Rights and Freedoms Protection Council. According to them, the instruction seriously violates the human rights of those deprived of freedom in The Hague, enabling effective protection as one of the basic human rights.

And from the Ministry of Justice have said that with this instruction it is intended to improve all shortcomings identified so far under existing legislation.

“In this Administratorial guidelines has been made to review tariffs, which have been done in consultation with experts and is in the interest of the Republic of Kosovo”.