Lawyer of the People's Letter to US Secretary Marco Rubio: Have a fair trial for Thaci and others

The ombudsman, Naim Qelaj, has been addressed through diplomatic channels to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US Department of Justice and the financing states of Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, forwarding the report to “for the preliminary assessment of Kosovo Specialised Chambers” and raising serious concerns on the basis of its findings. At the same time, the letter has been forwarded to the foreign ministers of Switzerland, Norway, Turkey and Canada.

According to the ombudsman's announcement, the report has also been distributed to top international officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leenen, EU foreign policy senior representative Kaya Kallas, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, as well as Council of Europe leaders.

In the letter, the Ombudsman expresses concerns about ensuring a fair trial in the procedures of Specialised Chambers, referring to the findings of the organisation “Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales”. He stresses that the institution he heads has consistently monitored respect for fundamental rights and the conditions of the detainees, while due to continued concerns it has committed BHRC to an independent assessment.

According to the report, serious problems have been identified in protecting procedural guarantees, especially regarding the right to a fair, transparent and impartial judgment.

“in this context, recall that these standards are guaranteed by the International Pact for Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for Human Rights, which is directly implemented in Kosovo's judicial order through Constitution”, the statement said.

The key underlines that respecting these principles is essential for the legitimacy and credibility of the judicial processes, demanding that the court practices fully comply with the highest international standards of justice, transparency and independence.

He points out that addressing the recorded concerns is necessary not only for protecting the rights of the accused but also for maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.

The ombudsman recalls Kosovo's continued commitment to international justice and rule of law, stressing that the establishment of specialised Chambers in The Hague has been made through constitutional changes and relevant legislation. It also singles out the fact that high political representatives of Kosovo have surrendered voluntarily to face justice, as evidence of institutional devotion to accountability and international co-operation.

Full letter:

Ombudsman addresses US Secretary of State and Finance states with paper on findings of the Kosovo Specialised Chambers Report

Pristina, May 6th, 2026 B. Naim Celaj has sent a letter to the finance states of Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, through which he has forwarded the report to “Verring Kosovo Specialised Chambers” and has presented his concerns based on the findings of this report.

This letter, conveyed through diplomatic channels, has been sent to the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio, and the US Justice Department. The information letter has been sent to the foreign affairs ministers of Switzerland, Norway, Turkey and Canada. The report was sent to Mrs. Ursula von der Leyeen, president of the European Commission, Mrs. Kaya Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Policy and EU Security, Mrs. Roberta Metsola, European Parliament President Mrs. Despina Chatzivasu-Tsovlis, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Mr. Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner.

In this letter, the Ombudsman has voiced concerns about guarantees of a fair trial during procedures in Kosovo's Specialised Chambers, identified by the organisation “Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales” (BHRC) ) England and Wales's Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights.

The ombudsman has informed them that the Ombudsman's institution has consistently monitored compliance with fundamental rights in Kosovo's Specialised Chambers ( DESK, as well as the conditions of the detainees. He emphasises in the letter that, as part of these efforts, he has committed the BHRC organisation to conduct an independent preliminary assessment as a result of its serious and persistent concerns regarding respect for fundamental rights within the framework of the judicial procedures in DPS.

The report in question has identified serious concerns regarding the protection of basic procedural guarantees offered to the accused, in particular, with the right to a fair, transparent and impartial judgment. These principles constitute fundamental guarantees under international law for human rights and international criminal justice.

It noted in this letter that the right to a fair trial is defined in Article 14 of the International Pact for Civil and Political Rights and at Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, both directly applicable to the Kosovo judiciary through the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. These provisions guarantee, among other things, that each soul has a right to a just session.

and public before a competent, independent and impartial court established by law; presumption of innocence; time and ease enough for defence preparation; equality of arms between prosecution and defence; and transparency in judicial procedures.

These internationally recognised standards provide essential protection to ensure the legitimacy and credibility of criminal procedures conducted under international or hybrid judicial mechanisms, it says on paper.

The ombudsman stresses the importance of ensuring that the court's practices and procedures continue to fully adhere to the highest international standards of justice, transparency and judicial independence. He added that addressing concerns identified in the report is essential not only for protecting the prosecution's procedural rights but also for preserving the credibility and integrity of the judicial process.

The ombudsman has recalled on paper that the Republic of Kosovo has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of international justice, accountability and rule of law. Furthermore, it notes that the Republic of Kosovo has fulfilled its international obligations by establishing Kosovo's Specialised Chambers in The Hague through constitutional changes and the adoption of implementing legislation by its democratic institutions. The ombudsman underlines Kosovo's clear and untenable readiness to contribute to international accounting mechanisms and to support the highest standards of justice.

In this letter, the Ombudsman also emphasises that Kosovo's top political representatives have surrendered voluntarily to the Court's jurisdiction to face charges brought against them. He added that such behaviour shows a strong institutional commitment by the Republic of Kosovo and its political leadership towards the principles of accountability, judicial co-operation and respect for international legal processes.