Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor accuses KLA Veterans of undermining proper administration of justice

Gazeta Express

22/09/2020 20:23

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) at the Hague, issued a statement Tuesday saying that they will prosecute all those who disclose the identity of individuals who may be called before the court.

The SPO has accused the Organisation of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Veterans for their engagement in activities which they believe are aimed at undermining the proper administration of Justice. The SPO has commended professionalism of journalists who have refused to publish documents provided by the KLA veterans.

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office has reacted after the KLA veterans announced receiving anonymously thousands of SPO files which as they said reveal the names of protected witnesses and potential indictees.

“During this time, I have also observed the commendable professionalism and ethical integrity of Kosovo’s journalists and other public commentators, many of whom have spoken clearly about how such activities undermine the rule of law and the course of justice,” the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office said in a release.

“I want to take this opportunity to commend the ethical journalists throughout Kosovo who have refused to publish documents provided to them, as well as the multiple journalists who have voluntarily provided us with the documents they received from the KLA War Veterans Association and publicly acknowledged that participating in disseminating such information could be a crime under the Kosovo Criminal Code,” the SPO stated.

The SPO says they remain committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals who commit any such crimes, including the disclosure of the identity of individuals who may be called before the court or any information that could lead to their identification. /GazetaExpress/