KLA OVL criticizes the Government for defense payments for the accused in The Hague

2025-07-28 17:29:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

KLA OVL criticizes the Government for defense payments for the accused in The

The Kosovo Liberation Army Veterans Organization (KLA OVL) has criticized the acting Government of Kosovo regarding the payments for the protection of former KLA leaders who are in custody in The Hague.

The head of the KLA's OVL, Hysni Gucati, said that he has addressed the acting Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, about this issue, but has not received a response.

He said that two and a half years ago, the Kosovo Government made changes regarding financial support for defendants from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, setting a ceiling on the price for defense.

Gucati, who described the decision as unfair and a big mistake, said that due to the payments, several lawyers have already left, mentioning Kadri Veseli's defense attorney and two lawyers for Hashim Thaçi.

"It [the Kosovo Government] has set a ceiling price to pay for protection and does not provide additional money, as it was four years ago. Four years ago, the price was unlimited, the Government paid as much as the protection had," said Gucati, accusing the Government of not "turning its head" towards the people who are in The Hague.

Days ago, it was reported that lawyers defending defendants from the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office in The Hague could be dismissed due to the payment issue.

However, the Ministry of Justice came out with a reaction, saying that since the start of the legal process at the Special Court in The Hague, regular payments have been made, in accordance with previously established agreements and obligations.

"Since the beginning of the process, a total of €32,944,287.77 has been paid. Of this amount, a total of €5,353,301.02 has been spent on the protection of Mr. Hashim Thaçi," said the Minister of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice had reacted to the issue of lawyer fees when Ben Emmerson, who defended Kadri Veseli, left the defense team of the former Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly in 2024.

The then-MD said that people who resign from their duties "can find various excuses, but low salary is not one of them."

Several cases are currently being heard at the Special Court, including the trial of former KLA leaders, namely former President Hashim Thaçi, former Speakers of Parliament Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi, and former Kosovo MP Rexhep Selimi. They face a joint indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges they have denied.

The Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office – widely known as the Specialist Court – were established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly and are part of the Kosovo judicial system, but operate with international staff in the Netherlands.

The Special Court is investigating alleged crimes committed by KLA members against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000./ REL