Close to sevenm euros was paid from Kosovo's budget in 2024 for protecting those accused of specials and family visits

“Battle for Justice” It reports that in terms of payments that were executed for the protection of the accused during 2024, which former KLA heads have spent (each separately) of a million and 320 thousand euros, except for the protection of Kadri Wessel, for which 10 thousand euros were spent less.

For the protection of Peter Shala, 865 thousand euros have been spent, while for Salih Mustafa's 40,000 euros.

For those accused of obstructing justice (Haji Shala, Ismet Bahtiari and Sabitian Januzi), who have recently confessed guilt and been convicted, besides Ismet Bahitari, the Justice Ministry has offered no data, although “Justice Bett” has repeatedly reiterated the request. According to the MD, the protection of Ismet Bahitari has spent 8 thousand euros.

Also, there is no information about Isni Kline if his defence is paid off from Kosovo's budget.

While for family visits, Kosovo's budget is mostly spent on Jakup Krasniqi. The expenses for these visits have amounted to 31 thousand and 325 euros and 28 cents. For Rexhep Selimi's, 28 thousand and 720 euros and 95 cents have been spent. For Hadzi Shala's, 27 thousand euros and 928 euros and 33 cents have been spent. For the family of Kadri Wessel, however, 24 thousand and 412 euros and 76 cents are spent on visits to The Hague.

The next is Ismet Bahtiari, who has spent 17 thousand and 640 euros and 62 cents, followed by Sabit Januzi with 17 thousand and 15 euros and 89 cents.

And 15 thousand and 340 euros and 99 cents have been spent on family visits to Salih Mustaf. Meanwhile, Isni Kilaj for family visits has spent only 11 thousand and 247 euros and 13 cents, leaving Peter Shala on her spending list last with 10 thousand and 518 euros and 20 cents.

But, for Thaci's family, no MD information was given if they used this right.

In all, for family visits by the defendants mentioned at The Hague, 184 thousand and 152 euros and 15 cents have been spent from the state budget.

Covering these expenses for the protection of the accused becomes a conform article 3, paragraph 1 of Law No. 05l-054 for legal protection and financial support of persons charged with potential in judicial processes near Specialised Chambers.

Under Article 3.1 of this law is determined that “all accused persons have the right to request assistance in covering defence spending and the commitment of independent, experienced and competent defenders paid by the Kosovo Budget, reserved for the purposes of this Law”.

Until, Article 4 of the same law has seen “1. The necessary financial support for close members of the family of persons charged with alleged crimes in court processes near the Specialised Chambers included spending related to their trips when judicial procedures are conducted outside Kosovo. 2. The necessary financial support for close members of the family of persons charged with alleged crimes in judicial processes near the Specialised Chambers is conducted under the sublegal act adopted by the Justice Ministry”.

Otherwise, through Administrative Guide MD No. 01-2024 for meeting and changing Administrative Guides MD number08/2022 for the Juridical Protection of Applied Individuals for Prescribed Criminals in Judicial Processes near Specialised Chambers, which has entered into force in February 2024, the tariffs for defence teams have been changed.

Kosovo's Specialised Chambers were established in August 2015, after Kosovo Parliamentary deputies had adopted the constitutional amendment, respectively, the new Article 162 of the Constitution of Kosovo, with two-thirds (2/3) of Kosovo Assembly deputies' votes, as well as the Specialised Chambers and Prosecutor's Office specialised (ZPS).

There were four cases in the process during 2024, while another began at the end of the year against administration of justice.

The case of former KLA leaders (Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi) is under trial and in the phase of presenting evidence by the prosecution.

Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are accused by the SPS that between March 1998 and September 1999, they committed crimes of persecution, imprisonment, arrest and arbitrary or illegal detention, other inhuman acts, cruel treatment, torture, murder and forced disappearance of persons considered opponents. The KLA's fourth case is on trial.

Although decisions have not yet taken a definite form, Peter Shala was sentenced to 18 years in prison from the Foundation. On the other hand, Salih Mustafa é Cali, the Supreme restored the case to Apel, reducing his sentence from 22 to 15 years in prison.

On July 16, 2024, Peter Shala has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, where it was found that beyond the allegations he is guilty of points 1, 3 and 4 of the prosecution. He was found guilty of arbitrary detention as a war crime against at least 18 people in the period between May 17th 1999 and June 5th of that year at the Metallian Fabric in Kukes, torture as a war crime against at least 18 people and unlawful murder as a war crime against one person.

At the November 29, 2024 session, Peter Shala was ordered to pay 208 thousand euros in damages to the victims. Now he is in the process of appeal over the case.

While the act of prejudice against Mustafa in the first instance was announced on December 16th 2022, with which Mustafa has been sentenced to 26 years in prison. He had submitted 51 points to the Court of Appeals' panel against the punitive decision of the Special Foundation to him.

The Special Appeals Court, on December 14, 2023, has declared judgment against Salih Mustaf, with whom he sentenced him to a unique sentence of 22 years in prison for war crimes.

The request for protection of legitimacy, Mustafa, had handed over on March 14, 2024 with whom he had demanded the Supreme Court of DPS to modify first and second-degree judgments, canceling the sentences for arbitrary ban, torture and murder, thus declaring him innocent or completely canceling his convictions and turning the case into a retrial.

While on 29 July, the Supreme Party partially approved Mustafa's request and annulled the play of the Appeals Act concerning the 22-year sentence, demanding a new sentence on the defendant. In September 2024, Appeals in restoration sentenced Mustaf to 15 years in prison.

Mustafa's case is under way again at the Supreme. Mustafa, through his defence, has sought to reduce the sentence for unlawful murder and therefore lower the final sentence on him, with the argument that most of the jurisdiction in Kosovo over the same crime is much easier considering that he was not found directly guilty of this work.

Otherwise, on April 6, 2023, Salih Mustafa was ordered to pay 207 thousand euros for the damage to the victims. When he was placed in Appeals for this occasion, the order for damage was not considered at all, since according to the court, the side had not appealed to him.

In 2024 Sabit Januzi, Haxhi Shala and Ismet Bahitari pleaded guilty to criminal acts against justice administration and intimidation through an agreement reached between them and the Specialised Prosecutor's Office. Thus, in 2025 the case was pronounced.

On the other hand, the Prosecutor's Office specialised in December 2024 announced that it has filed an indictment against Hashim Thaci, the Smakaj Union, Fadil Fazlius, Isni Kilajt and Hajredin Kuci, and this has been confirmed by the Prosecution Court in TrsK

On its basis, Fadil Fazliu, the Smaj Union and Isni Kilaj, who were transferred to The Hague the following day. For Hajredin Kuchin, however, there was issued a call to the DPS.

The SPS claims that individually and through joint actions with groups; The band Fazliu (Fadil Fazliu and Fahri Fazliu), the Smaj Group (Bashkim Smaj, Blerim Shala and Artan Behrami) and the Kilaj Group (Isni Kilaj and Vlasnim Kryeziu) have followed a pattern of conduct to prevent official persons from performing official duties.

The indictment says Thaci has led and participated in these efforts through his visits to detention facilities during the time he was detained under his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It says that members of the Fazliu Group, the Smaj Group and the Kilaj Group were co-ordinated to influence SPS witnesses during the privileged visits of July 2nd, September 9th and October 6, 2023.

As a result, three counts of obstructing the official person in carrying out official duties bear against Thaci three counts of violations of the procedure's secrecy and four counts of disobedience to the court.

While, Kilaj, Smaj and Fazliu are accused of trying to prevent official persons from performing official duties and disobeying the tribunal. However, Kuci has two counts of contempt of court.

Thaci's first presentation, Smajt and Fazliu, has taken place on 8 December 2024. Although it was not declared guilty of guilt or innocence in the matter, Thaci said he knows that Kosovo is on the verge of electoral elections and that it poses no political danger to anyone. Likewise, neither Smaj had been declared, demanding that he use the timeline. However, the defence had sought bail, offering 5 thousand euros in bail, which has been refused by the judge and has subsequently remained in custody.

The same was decided for Fadil Fazliu, though he offered two thousand and 540 euros in bail and was acquitted.

Innocents were also declared Hajredin Kuci and Isni Kilaj during the December 9th 2024 hearings. But, Kilaj remained in custody, refusing bail worth 400,000 euros.

Nor at the first conference on the performance of the issue, held on 17 December 2024, Smaj and Thaci were not declared. However, Thaci underlined that two acts by the Special have risen near the elections. The first when the president would be re-elected and the second on the eve of elections.

We remember that on May 13th, 2024, Isni Kilay was released from custody following her arrest on 2023. He had been released under strict security measures and on bail of 30 thousand euros.

Under suspicion of obstruction of justice, in March 2024 the home of Sylejman Selim was raided, and Sami Lushtak's phone was also confiscated.