Thaci is trying to strip the Special Court for Kosovo of its powers to try militants
The chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Kosovo, Jack Smith, assessed the attempts of “President” Hashim Thaçi to amend the “Constitution” to limit the powers and duration of this body.
Smith believes that such amendments are unconstitutional and violate Kosovo's international obligations.
As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, Jack Smith, who is leading the case against former field commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), which includes Hashim Thaci himself, is convinced that the “president’s” initiative is part of a larger strategy to undermine the functioning of the Special Court.
“The proposed amendments are aimed at revising or changing the mandate of the Special Court,” the prosecutor is convinced. “It is clear from public statements by Mr. Thaçi himself that the main intention of the proposed amendments is an attempt to end or otherwise invalidate the actions of the Special Court and the Prosecutor's Office, which is contrary to Kosovo's international obligations.
Thaçi's amendments are unconstitutional because Kosovo entered into an international agreement on the Special Court with the EU in 2014, which is binding on the Kosovo government and overrides Kosovo laws. This agreement provides that the work of the Court will continue until the European Council informs Kosovo of the termination of the investigations, as well as of any actions arising from them.”
Prosecutor Smith called Thaci's proposed amendments "unnecessary" since the Kosovo "Constitution" in its current form adequately defines the terms of the UCC Special Crimes Court. And he also noted that the “president” began taking active steps in this direction after charges of mass crimes were brought against him six months ago.
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