Law on Speciale approved in first reading

The Assembly of Kosovo has approved in first reading the Draft Law on amending and supplementing the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, as Telegrafi reports.

The draft law was voted with 91 votes in favour. At the moment of the vote, 91 MPs were present in the Assembly hall.

Before reaching the plenary session, the Draft Law also passed today in the Committee on Legislation, where it was supported in principle unanimously. Nine MPs took part in the vote and all voted in favour, with no votes against or abstentions.

The draft law is an initiative of the Democratic Party of Kosovo and envisages changes to the Law on the Specialist Chambers.

After approval in first reading, the parliamentary procedure for this Draft Law continues with its review before the vote in second reading.

The issue of amending the Law on Speciale has been at the centre of political developments in recent days.

The PDK initiative to amend the Law on the Specialist Chambers aims to narrow the mandate and jurisdiction of the Speciale, limiting the time period from 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2000 and the territory only to offences committed in Kosovo.

It also envisages limiting the criminal offences that can be dealt with by the Speciale, a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, serving sentences in Kosovo and the possibility of a presidential pardon.

According to the initiative, cases that would no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the Speciale would be transferred to Kosovo’s judicial system, together with the files and evidence, while the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court and a review of the jurisdiction of existing cases within 30 days of the changes entering into force is also envisaged.