Ombudsperson urged to refer Specialist Chambers law to the Constitutional Court

A group of 24 representatives of civil society, academia and human rights organizations have asked Ombudsperson Naim Qelaj to refer to the Constitutional Court the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the request, the Constitutional Court is asked to clarify whether the mandate of the Specialist Chambers has been expanded beyond the authorization of Article 162 of Kosovo’s Constitution — the provision that ties their establishment to the report of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (Dick Marty, 2011) and to the investigations of the Special Investigative Task Force.

The request mentions the summary of the verdict against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, raising the question of whether the link to the Council of Europe report functioned as a real limitation of the Specialist Chambers’ jurisdiction, or as a starting point for a much broader jurisdiction over the organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

The signatories clarify that the request does not seek a reassessment of evidence or a determination of guilt — only the constitutional compliance of the legislation. On behalf of the group, the request was sent by Ramadan Ilazi of KCSS. Other signatories include Enver Hasani, Ismet Kryeziu, Lulzim Peci, Visar Ymeri, Leonora Kryeziu and Fisnik Korenica.

Source: KosovaPress (the news was also reported by katror.info)