From January 1 to August 31, 2023, the amount that the Republic of Kosovo has spent on the defense of the accused, who are facing justice in the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo (DhSK) in The Hague, was 5 million 485 thousand 800 euros.
Meanwhile, the total amount allocated for 2023 reaches the figure of 7 million euros, reports "Oath of Justice".
"Oath of Justice" has provided the data from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) regarding the payments that have been executed for the Legal Protection and Financial Support of Potential Accused Persons in Judicial Processes at the Specialized Chambers for the year 2023.
According to the data, the value of budget funds spent for the year 2023 for family visits was 96 thousand 808 euros and 82 cents.
The largest funds for protection were spent on Jakup Krasniqi, in the amount of 1 million and 100 thousand euros, followed by Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli in the amount of 880 thousand euros.
also
In 2023, over 8 million euros were paid from the state budget for the protection of the accused from the Special
Meanwhile, the defense of former president Hashim Thaçi has spent 821 euros, for Pjetër Shala 820 euros, for Salih Mustafa 675 euros, for Hysni Gucati 484 euros and for Nasim Haradinaj 363 euros.
As for the budget funds for the family members of the accused, who visited them at the detention center in The Hague, according to the answer of the Ministry of Defense, tickets, sleeping and food are included.
Otherwise, in the answer of the MD, it is stated that the budget allocated for the year 2023, for the Division, is 7 million euros.
The coverage of these expenses for the defense of the Special accused is made in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1 of Law no. 05/l-054 for the legal protection and financial support of potential accused persons in judicial proceedings before the Specialized Chambers.
According to Article 3.1 of this law, it is determined that "All accused persons have the right to request assistance in covering the costs of defense and the engagement of an independent defender, with experience and competence, which are paid by the Budget of Kosovo, allocated for the purposes of this Law".
also
Jashari: The Special Court does not meet the standard of an independent and impartial court
Until, Article 4 of the same law provided that "1. Necessary financial support for close family members of persons accused of alleged crimes in judicial proceedings before the Specialized Chambers includes expenses related to their travels when judicial proceedings take place outside Kosovo. 2. The necessary financial support for the close family members of the persons accused of the alleged crimes in the court proceedings before the Specialized Chambers is made according to the by-law approved by the Ministry of Justice".
The Specialized Chambers of Kosovo were established in August 2015, after the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo had approved the constitutional amendment, namely the new article 162 of the Constitution of Kosovo, with two-thirds (2/3) of the votes of the deputies of Assembly of Kosovo, as well as the Law on Specialized Chambers and the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor (ZPS).
Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi are accused by the ZPS that between March 1998 and September 1999, they committed the crimes of persecution, imprisonment, arbitrary or illegal arrest and detention, other acts inhumane, cruel treatment, torture, killing and forced disappearance of persons who were considered opponents. The accused Pjetër Shala is also being tried by this court for war crimes.
On the other hand, Salih Mustafa was sentenced to 26 years in prison for war crimes from the first instance.
also
Koci expects clarification from the lawyers of former KLA leaders: They were paid around 40 million euros from the state budget
Meanwhile, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj were charged with obstruction of the administration of justice, who were also found guilty of these criminal acts, being sentenced to 4 and a half years of imprisonment and a fine of 100 euros. / Oath of Justice
