13 minutes ago6.5 million were spent from Kosovo's budget for protecting indictees at The Hague and family visits in 2025
Periskopi(6 months ago)
(6 months ago)For protecting accused in Kosovo Specialised Chambers ( In The Hague, 6m and 277 thousand and 500 euros were spent in the budget of the Republic of Kosovo during 2025. In total, though, 6 million and 515 thousand and 67 euros have been spent on the protection of the accused and family visits....
“Justice Vow” has provided data from the Justice Ministry (MD) concerning payments that have been executed for legal protection and financial support of persons charged with potential in court processes near the Specialised Chambers for 2025.
The largest amount has been spent on protecting former KLA leaders: Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. For each of their defences, between 1m and 320m euros have been spent in the war crimes case. While, 17 thousand and another 500 euros have been spent on Hashim Thaci in the case against justice administration.
For the protection of Salih Mustafa and Peter Shala, 480 thousand euros have been spent.
For the Smacan Union, however, 10,000 euros have been spent, to join his accused Fadil Fazliu has been spent seven thousand euros. For Ismet Bahtari, however, three thousand euros have been spent.
The data in question has been provided by the Ministry of Justice, the Division for Co-ordination of the Jury Protection and Financial Support Process of Acposed Individuals in Judicial Processes near Specialised Chambers in The Hague, respectively.
But, from this ministry, they haven't provided any information on whether or how much lawyers have spent on Haxhi Shala, Sabit Januzin, Isni Kline and Hajredin Kuchin.
Over 237 thousand euros were spent on family visits
According to data from MD, the Republic of Kosovo's budget for family visits to The Hague has spent a total of 237 thousand and 567 euros and 69 cents. These include plane tickets and food.
From the data, Hashim Thaci turns out he has not exploited this right. While, for Jakup Krasniqi's family visits, a total of 34 thousand and 771 euros and 40 cents have been spent, for those of Rexhep Selimi, 32 thousand and 39 euros and 29 cents have been spent.
Also, Isni Kilaj spent 29 thousand and 457 euros and 23 cents, for Haxhi Shala, 28 thousand and 912 euros and 60 cents, for the Smajan Union 26 thousand and 969 euros and 6 cents.
On the other hand, Kadri Wessel for family visits has spent 22 thousand and 563 euros and 28 cents. On the other hand, Salih Mustafa for the same category spent 17 thousand and 361 euros and 68 cents, Peter Shala 8 thousand and 365 euros and 72 cents, as well as Ismet Bahitari 3 thousand and 925 euros and 87 cents.
Otherwise, in response to the MD, the budget that was allocated for 2025, for the Co-ordination of the Jury Protection and Financial Support Process of Accusted Individuals in Judicial Processes near TSK, is 8 million and 50 thousand euros.
In all, Kosovo's budget for the protection of the accused and family visits have spent 6m 515 thousand and 67 euros and 69 cents.
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.
According to 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 Kosovo's budget, loaned 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 Specialised Chambers included expenses 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”.
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).
