kosovo specialist chambers & specialist prosecutor’s officesuccessful discharge of our...

Kosovo Specialist Chambers &Specialist Prosecutor’s Office

FIRST REPORT

2 | Kosovo Specialist Chambers & Specialist Prosecutor’s Office | First Report

KOSOVO SPECIALIST CHAMBERS 5Foreword 6Background 8Milestones 10KSC at a glance 12

Chambers 141 StructureandCompositionofChambers 152 AppointmentofJudges 163 Core Legal Instruments 204 BuildingtheProceduralFramework 255 ExternalRelations 26

Outreach Activities 27

Registry 331 ImmediateOfficeoftheRegistrar(IOR) 352 PublicInformationandCommunicationUnit(PICU) 373 AuditOffice 394 OfficeoftheOmbudsperson 395 JudicialServicesDivision 40 5.1 CourtManagementUnit(CMU) 40 5.2 LanguageServicesUnit(LSU) 40 5.3 DefenceOffice(DO) 41 5.4 Victims’ParticipationOffice(VPO) 42 5.5 WitnessProtectionandSupportOffice(WPSO) 43 5.6 DetentionManagementUnit(DMU) 43 6 DivisionofAdministration 44 6.1 HumanResourcesUnit(HRU) 44 6.2 InformationTechnologyServicesUnit(ITSU) 46 6.3 FacilitiesManagementandGeneralServicesUnit(FMGSU) 46 6.4 SecurityandSafetyUnit(SSU) 47 6.5 FinanceandBudgetUnit(FBU) 47 6.6 ProcurementUnit(PU) 48

Contents

First Report | Kosovo Specialist Chambers & Specialist Prosecutor’s Office | 3

SPECIALIST PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE 49Foreword 50EvolutionoftheSpecialistProsecutor’sOffice 52

KOSOVOSPECIALISTCHAMBERS


Theimmenseeffortsandcollaborationrequiredtoestablishandmakefunctionalacriminalcourtthathasthecapacitytomanagecomplexcasesofviolations of international humanitarian and human rights law are often not recollected or recorded. By providing this report, we intend torecountandhighlightsomeofthecriticalmilestonesachievedduringthedynamicprocessfromApril2016toJuly2017thatledtotheKosovoSpecialistChambersbecoming judiciallyoperational.DevelopmentsfromJuly2017toFebruary2018 are also reported.

Bearinginmindourcommitmenttoensuretheeffective administration and management of futuretrials,manyvaluablelessonslearnedfromother courts dealing with international crimeswere applied during the establishment of theKosovoSpecialistChambersandthedraftingoftheRulesofProcedureandEvidence.Wehopethattheexperienceofandlessonslearnedduring thebuildingoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers,whichincludeelementsunprecedentedininternationalor internationalisedcourts,will inturncontributetofuturemechanismsofaccountability andjustice.

WearecommittedtoensuringthattheworkoftheKosovoSpecialistChambersistransparentlyreportedtoaswideanaudienceaspossible.

This,we hope, is achieved in part by the first report of theKosovoSpecialistChambers thatwillbefollowed,inthefuture,byannualreports.

Creating theKosovoSpecialistChambers fromthe ground up has presented formidable challenges.ThankstothededicatedworkofstaffaswellasthecommitmentandexpertiseofKosovoSpecialist Chambers Judges, those challengeswereovercome.TheentryintoforceoftheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceinJuly2017,withinfivemonthsof theappointmentof theJudges,demonstrates their professionalism, knowledgeandcommitmenttocreatethelegaltoolsforefficient, secure and fair proceedings before theKosovoSpecialistChambers.Wethusexpressour sinceregratitudetotheJudgesandallpersonnel.

WesincerelythanktheEuropeanUnionMemberStates for financially supporting the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’sOffice.The generous contributionfromtheKingdomofNorwayfortherenovationofthefuturepremisesoftheinstitutionsisalsogreatly appreciated. Likewise, the contributionfrom the Swiss Confederation for the support of our outreach activities is hugely valued. WealsoexpressourgratitudetotheStatesthathavesecondedpersonnel.

ForewordIt is a privilege to present the first report of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers – a new institution with the statutory mandate to conduct independent, impartial, efficient and fair criminal proceedings in a safe and secure environment.


WearemostgratefultotheKingdomoftheNetherlandsforhosting the relocated judicial proceedings and to variousGovernmentMinistriesfortheirassistancewithsettingupandmanaging securityandpractical arrangements for thefunctioningoftheinstitutionsintheNetherlands.

We further thank States andmembers of the diplomaticcommunityfortheirongoingengagementandcooperationwith the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the SpecialistProsecutor’sOffice.

OurgratitudegoestotheEuropeanUnionSpecialRepresentativeforKosovo,NataliyaApostolova,theHeadoftheEuropeanUnionRuleof LawMission inKosovo (EULEX), AlexandraPapadopoulouandtheirstafffortheircontinuous support.Wealsothankcolleagues intheEuropeanUnionExternalActionService,theEuropeanCommissionServiceforForeignPolicyInstrumentsandtheCivilianPlanningandConductCapabilityfortheircooperationonadministrativemattersrelatedtothefunctioningoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

ThecooperativerelationshipdevelopedwithinternationalandinternationalisedcourtsinTheHagueandtheiropenness to share with us their experience in organisational and administrativemattersishighlyappreciated.

Judge Ekaterina TrendafilovaPresident of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers

The Hague, March 2018

Many challenges lie ahead for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.Weareattentive toour responsibility towardsthepopulationinKosovoandwevalueitskeeninterestinourwork.Withthesupportoftherelevant institutionsofKosovo,andofthosereferredabove,weareconfidentinthesuccessfuldischargeofourdutiesandthefulfilmentofourmandate.

Wearealsodedicatedtoawell-calibratedandwide-ranging outreach programme in order to increase knowledge andawarenessabouttheworkoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers,fosterdialoguewithaffectedpersonsandcommunities inKosovoand the region, andestablish this institutionas a reliable sourceof informationabout itsownproceedings.Through frequent consultationswith organisations, informationsessionswithjournalists,programmesforstudents,town-hallmeetings,roundtablediscussionsandregularupdatesthroughnewsletters,weintendtodisseminatetimelyinformationandpromotedialogueontheperformanceoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

Finally, we are determined to ensure that the Kosovo SpecialistChamberswillbeseenasabeaconof indepen-dence,impartialityandfairness,nottaintedbyanyinfluence,interferenceorpoliticalagenda,andasterlingsafeguardnotonlyofthefundamentalrightsoftheaccused,butalsothe securityandsafetyofvictimsandwitnesses.

Dr Fidelma DonlonRegistrar of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers


In June 2008, the Committee on LegalAffairsandHumanRightsoftheParliamentaryAssembly oftheCouncilofEuropeappointedaspecialrapporteur to investigate allegations of seriouscrimescommittedbycertainKosovoLiberationArmy(KLA)membersduringandintheaftermathofthe1998-1999conflict.

In January 2011,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope,throughResolution1782(2011), adopted the report prepared by the special rapporteur (Council of Europe Report),whichallegedthatnumerouscrimeswerecommittedagainstSerbs,KosovoAlbanianssuspectedofbeingcollaboratorsandotherindividuals.

Further to the Council of Europe Report, in May 2011, EUMember States considered thematter in the framework of the Political and SecurityCommittee,abodydealingwiththeEUCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy.Thereupon,the Special InvestigativeTask Force (SITF)wasestablishedandmandated toconductan independentinvestigationintoallegationsofunlawfuldetention,deportation,inhumaneacts,tortureand killings,aswellasanyothercrimesrelatedtotheCouncilofEuropeReport.BasedinBrussels,theSITF commenced its operations in September 2011.

Whilst this investigation was ongoing, in an Exchange of Letters between the President ofKosovo and the High Representative of the UnionforForeignAffairsandSecurityPolicy inApril 2014, an international agreement was

reached for the establishment and operation ofseparatejudicialchambersfortheprosecution ofcrimesarisingfromSITFinvestigations.

The Exchange of Letters provides that these judicialchamberswouldbeestablishedwithintheKosovocourtsystem,butwouldbegovernedbytheir own statute and rules of procedure and evidence,while being staffed andmanaged by internationalstaffonly.TheExchangeofLettersalso states that the separate judicial chamberswouldhaveaseatinathirdstateandthatsensitiveproceedings,includinghearingofwitnesses,wouldtakeplaceoutsideKosovo.TheExchangeofLetterswasratifiedinApril2014bytheKosovo Assemblywithatwo-thirdsmajorityandincorporatedintodomesticlaw.

In July 2014, theSITFChiefProsecutor issued astatement,concludingthattheSITF“willbeina position to file an indictment against certainseniorofficialsoftheformerKosovoLiberationArmy”.

In November 2014, further to the EUCouncilDecision(CFSP)2014/685ofSeptember2014,theso-calledCourtPlanningTeamwasformed.Based in Brussels, itwasmandated to exploreoptionsforthesettingupofthe judicial institution.

In March 2015, the President of the Kosovo AssemblyreferredtotheKosovoConstitutionalCourt a constitutional amendment proposed by the Kosovo government to implement the

Background


Exchange of Letters. According to the Constitution, theKosovo Constitutional Court had to assess whether the referredamendmentproposaldiminishedanyoftherightsandfreedomsguaranteedbyChapterIIoftheConstitution. In April 2015,theKosovoConstitutionalCourtheldthattheamendment proposal was in conformity with the KosovoConstitutionandheldthat“[t]hestructure,scopeofjurisdictionandfunctioningoftheSpecialistChamberswillberegulatedbyfurtherlawsincompliancewiththeConstitution”.

ThisamendmentwasimplementedthroughArticle162oftheKosovoConstitution,adoptedbytheKosovoAssemblyin August 2015.Atthesametime,theLawontheestablishment of both institutionswas also adopted,which serves as the foundational instrument for the Kosovo SpecialistChambers(KSC)andtheSpecialistProsecutor’sOffice(SPO).

In January 2016, Kosovo and the Netherlands signed an interimHostStateAgreement,enablingpreparatoryactivities for the establishment and functioning of the KSC on the territoryoftheNetherlands. In April 2016,DrFidelmaDonlon wasappointedRegistraroftheSpecialistChambers,markingthecommencementoftheworkoftheKSCRegistryinTheHague.Atthesametime,theCourtPlanningTeamwasrelocatedfromBrusselstoTheHague.Withsignificantexpertiseintheirfieldandtheworkofjudicialadministration,ateamof17personnelsetabouttherapiddevelopmentandgrowthoftheRegistrytoenableit to manage both its administrative and judicial supportmandate.

In June 2016, the EU Council adopted Decision (CFSP)2016/947, reiterating theEU’scontinuedsupport for the relocatedproceedings.TheEUCouncildirectedtheEuropean

Commissionto“signagrantagreementwitharegistraractingonbehalfofaregistryinchargeoftheadministrationofthe relocated judicial proceedings”. This decision allowedfor direct administration of the relocated judicial institutionsbytheRegistrarand,thus,pavedthewayfortheindependentadministrationoftheKSC.

In September 2016,DavidSchwendimanwasappointed as SpecialistProsecutor. InDecember 2016, JudgeEkaterinaTrendafilovawas appointed as President of the SpecialistChambers,andshetookofficeinJanuary2017.

On 1 January 2017, the Host StateAgreement betweenKosovo and theNetherlands entered into force, allowingtheKSC to conduct criminal proceedings on its territory.Subsequently,inFebruary 2017,nineteenJudgeswereappointedtotheRosterofInternationalJudgesoftheSpecialist Chambers. InMarch 2017, during the first Plenary, the SpecialistChambersJudgesadoptedtheRulesofProcedureandEvidence.

After a constitutional review by the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court, the Rules of Procedure and Evidence entered into force in July 2017, rendering the SpecialistChambersfullyjudiciallyoperational.

In November 2017,theRegistraradoptedtheDirectiveonCounselregulating,amongothers,theeligibilityoflawyerstorepresentsuspects,accusedandvictimsbeforetheKosovoSpecialistChambers.Atthesametime,theapplicationforadmissiontotheListofCounselwasopened.


2015 2014 2013

NOVEMBER 2014TheCourtPlanningTeamisformed.

AUGUST 2015TheKosovoAssemblyadoptsArticle162oftheKosovoConstitutionandtheLawonSpecialistChambersandSpecialistProsecutor’sOffice.

2011 2012

MILESTONES

JANUARY 2011 TheCouncilofEurope(CoE)ParliamentaryAssemblyapprovesaReporton“inhumantreatmentofpeopleandillicittraffickinginhumanorgansinKosovo”.

APRIL 2014TheKosovoPresidentandtheHighRepresentative oftheEUforForeignAffairsandSecurityPolicyexchangelettersontheissueof“separatejudicialchambers”.

SEPTEMBER 2011TheSpecialInvestigativeTaskForce(SITF), established by the EUtoconductcriminalinves-tigationsintotheallegationsof theCoEReport, commences its work.


2016

OF THE KSC

JANUARY 2016KosovoandtheNetherlandssigntheInterimHostStateAgreement,inpreparationofthelocationof thefuturejudicialinstitutionintheNetherlands.

APRIL 2016DrFidelmaDonlonisappointedRegistrarof theKSC,markingthecommencementoftheworkofthejudicialinstitutioninTheHague.

JUNE 2016TheEUCounciladopts a decision ontheannualbudgetoftheKSC,providingforitsdirect admini strationbytheRegistrar.

DECEMBER 2016JudgeEkaterinaTrendafilovaisappointedPresidentoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

JANUARY 2017 TheHostStateAgreemententersintoforce,providinglegalbasisfortheKSCtoconduct proceedings in theNetherlands.

MARCH 2017JudgesadopttheRulesofProcedureandEvidence,subjecttoreviewbytheSpecialistChamberoftheConstitutionalCourt.

JULY 2017Followingtheconstitu-tionalreviewconductedbytheSpecialistChamber oftheConstitutionalCourt,theRulesofProcedureandEvidenceenterintoforceandtheKosovoSpecialistChambersbecomejudiciallyoperational.

FEBRUARY 2017 19JudgesareappointedtotheRosterofInternationalJudges.

2017

KSC AT


•The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and theSpecialist Prosecutor’sOffice are two inde-pendent institutionsestablishedbyaconsti-tutional amendment and a Law on Specialist ChambersandSpecialistProsecutor’sOffice(Law) adopted by the Kosovo Assembly inAugust 2015.

• The mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambersis

– “toensuresecure,independent,impartial,fair andefficient criminal proceedings in

relation to allegations of gravetrans-boundary and international crimescommittedduringandintheaftermathofthe conflict in Kosovo, which relate tothose reported in theCouncilofEuropeParliamentary Assembly Report (…) andwhichhavebeen the subjectof criminal investigation by the Special Investigative TaskForce”(Article1oftheLaw).

• The KSC are a temporary judicial institution –theywillonlybeinexistenceforthetimenecessarytodealwithchargespresentedbytheSpecialistProsecutoranduntilKosovo isnotifiedbytheEUCouncilthatinvestigationsandproceedingshaveconcluded.

•TheKosovoSpecialistChambers are establishedwithin the Kosovo justice system

– havingthe same court levelsastheKosovo judicial system (basic, appeal, supreme,constitutional);

– havingoneseat outside Kosovo;

Specialist Chambers

Chambers Registry Specialist Prosecutor’s

Office

A GLANCE


– being staffed by judges and personnelwhoarecitizensofEU Member States or Third Contributing States;

– applying international customary law and substantive criminal law as providedintheLaw;and

– applying their own rules of procedure and evidence.

•The KSC deal with individual criminal responsibility only–theSpecialistChamberswillnotputgroupsororganisationsontrial.

•TheKSCjurisdictioncovers: – crimesagainsthumanity,warcrimesand

othercrimesundertheapplicablecriminallawatthetimethecrimeswerecommitted;

· thatoccurredbetween1January1998 and31December2000;

· either commenced or committed inKosovo, or committed by or againstpersonsofKosovo/FRYcitizenship;

– certaincrimesagainsttheadministration ofjusticewhentheyrelatetoitsofficialproceedingsand/orofficials.

•TheKSCallowvictims’ participation in proceedings.

•TheKSCandSPOarefundedbyEUMemberStates and Third Contributing States, andare independent in the fulfilment of theirmandate and work.

“The Specialist Chambers will not prosecute any ethnic group. They will not prosecute any organisation. The Specialist Chambers will only prosecute and hold accountable individual persons.”

President Trendafilova (BIRN, 2017)

Chambers


TheKosovoSpecialistChambershavetwoorgans:theChambersandtheRegistry.Chamberscomprises the President, the Vice-President and the other Judges on the Roster of International Judges. Chambers is established within andfollows the structure of the justice systemofKosovo.

According to Article 24 of the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’sOffice (Law),Chambers includesaBasic Court Chamber, a Court of AppealsChamber, a Supreme Court Chamber and aConstitutionalCourtChamber.

1 Structure and Composition of Chambers

Structure of Chambers

Roster of International Judges

President

Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court (limitedtoconstitutionalreferrals)

Supreme Court Chamber

Court of Appeals Chamber

Basic Court Chamber

• Judges are assigned by the President tospecific proceedings from the Roster ofInternationalJudges

• Four Judges are appointed for assignment to the Specialist Chamber of theConstitutionalCourt


Within this structure there are, as necessary, individual Judges performing functions of aPre-TrialJudge,TrialPanels(composedofthreeJudgesandonereserveJudge),allbelongingtotheBasicCourt,CourtofAppealsPanels,Supreme Court Panels and Constitutional Court Panels,eachcomposedofthreeJudges,aswellasindividual Judges performing other functions required bytheLaw.

The President is responsible for the judicial administrationoftheKosovoSpecialistChambersandistheonlyJudgewhoservesonafull-timebasis.Judicialadministrationentails:coordinating thefunctioningofChambers;adoptingpracticedirections and other internal regulations; consultingandcoordinatingwiththeRegistrarandthe Specialist Prosecutor, when necessary, onthe administration of judicial activity; setting

courtrecessperiods;andothertasksprovidedbytheLawortheRulesofProcedureandEvidence.The President also assigns Judges as Pre-TrialJudgesortotheTrial,CourtofAppeals,SupremeCourtandConstitutionalCourtPanels.SherepresentstheChambersasanorganand,togetherwith theRegistrar, theKosovoSpecialistChambersasaninstitution.

AccordingtoArticle26oftheLaw,JudgesareonlypresentattheseatoftheSpecialistChambersasnecessaryattherequestofthePresidenttoexercisefunctionsrequiringtheirpresence.

ThePresidentandtheJudgesareassistedbylegalofficersandadministrativestaffoftheChambers’LegalSupportUnit.

2 Appointment of JudgesInJuly2016,aCallforNominationofPresidentand Judges of the Specialist Chambers was publishedandcirculatedbytheEuropeanExternal ActionServicetoEUMemberStatesandThirdContributingStates.

InaccordancewithArticle28oftheLaw,anindependent selection panel (Selection Panel) wasformed to assess the judicial candidates and select them for appointment as judges for theRoster of International Judges (Roster), aswellasformakingrecommendationsfortheappointmentofthePresidentandVice-PresidentoftheSpecialistChambers.

TheSelectionPanelconsistedofthreemembers:two international judgeswithsubstantial international criminal justice experience and one seniorinternationalappointee.ThecompositionoftheSelectionPanelensuredtheindependentassessmentofthequalificationsofeachcandidate.

EUMemberStatesandThirdContributingStates submitted their support to theSelectionPanelforoneormorecandidatestheyfoundsuitable.

The ensuing selection process entailed a thorough assessment of the knowledge, expertiseandexperienceofeligiblecandidates,whowereindividuallyinterviewed.

ActingupontherecommendationoftheSelection Panel,on14December2016,theHeadoftheEURule of Law Mission in Kosovo (Appointing Authority) appointedEkaterina Trendafilova as JudgeandPresidentoftheSpecialistChambers.JudgeTrendafilovatookofficeon12January2017.

Further nineteen Judges, including theVice-PresidentKeithRaynor,wereappointedtothe Roster on 7 February 2017. As with the President, the Judges were appointed by the AppointingAuthority. None of the Judges areseconded by EU Member States or Third ContributingStates.

TheappointedJudgeshavevariousprofessionalbackgrounds. Some have served with inter-national or internationalised criminal courts ortribunalsorwiththeEuropeanCourtofHumanRights.OtherJudgeslookbackondistinguisheddomesticcareers,beitasjudges,defencecounselorprosecutors.TherearealsoJudgeswithoutstandingacademiccareersinthelegalfield.Allofthem are renowned for their profound knowledge and unique expertise in criminal law, humanitarianandhumanrightslaw.OneJudgewas specifically selected for his expertise in internationaladministrativelawtobeconsidered forassignmentasaStaffAppealsJudgeof theSpecialistChambers,whodealswithappealsofstaffagainstadministrativeanddisciplinarydecisions(seepage25).

TheappointedJudgesarenationalsoffourteencountries.Thisagainshowsthattheirselectionwas merit- rather than nationality-based. The gender ratio of the twenty Judges (five women,includingthePresident,andfifteenmen)correspondstotheEUMemberStates’andThirdContributing States’ submissions of support. As regards age ratio, seven Judges are 40 to 50yearsold,anothersevenare51to60,fiveare61to70yearsoldandoneJudgeisabove70.

President Ekaterina Trendafilova


Judges of the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court

International Judges of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers

JudgeAndresParmas

(Estonia)

JudgeNicolasGuillou

(France)

Judge GuénaëlMettraux

(Switzerland)

Judge Vladimir Mikula(Czech Republic)

JudgeChristophBarthe

(Germany)

JudgeMappie VeldtFoglia

(Netherlands)

Judge KennethRoberts

(Canada)

JudgeKaiAmbos(Germany)

JudgeMichaelBohlander

(Germany)

JudgeEmilioGatti

(Italy)

JudgeThomasLaker

(Germany)

JudgeMichèlePicard

(France)

JudgeChristine VandenWyngaert

(Belgium)

JudgeCharlesL.Smith,III

(USA)

JudgeKeithRaynorVice-President (UK)

JudgeAntonioBalsamoReserve Judge (Italy)

JudgeRolandDekkers(Netherlands)

JudgeAnnPower-Forde(Ireland)


JudgeVidarStensland (Norway)

JudgeEkaterina Trendafilova

President (Bulgaria)

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

5

7

7

EU Member StatesBulgaria (President)UK (Vice-President)BelgiumCzech RepublicEstoniaFranceGermanyIrelandItalyNetherlands

Third Contributing StatesCanadaNorwaySwitzerlandUSA1

1

1

1

2

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

5

7

7

Judges per EU Member State and per Third Contributing State

In the selection of Judges for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the knowledge, expertise and experience of the candidates as legal practitioners – be it as judges, prosecutors or defence lawyers – was thoroughly tested. The purpose of this strict selection process was the appointment of the most qualified professionals regardless of their political affiliations or citizenship.

11

11

22

14

21

11

11

15

77

Judges by Age Group

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

5

7

7 40-50 Years51-60 Years61-70 Years70-75 Years

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

4

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

5

7

7


3 Core Legal InstrumentsThe appointment of the President and the Judges set off the preparation for the adop- tionofthreelegalinstrumentsessentialforthefunctioningoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers:the Rules of Procedure and Evidence Beforethe Kosovo Specialist Chambers (the Rules ofProcedure and Evidence); the Code of Judicial Ethics for Judges Appointed to the Roster ofInternational Judges of the Kosovo SpecialistChambers (Code of Judicial Ethics); and the RulesontheAssignmentofSpecialistChambersJudgesfromtheRosterof InternationalJudges(the Rules on Assignment). These instruments

comply with and supplement the Law.WithinonemonthofthePresidenttakingoffice,threedraftsoftheabove-mentioneddocumentswereprepared and sent to the Judges, who, withintwoweeks,providedcomprehensivecommentsand proposals. The updated drafts were then deliberated upon at the first Plenary, held between14and17March2017.

DuringthisfirstPlenary,theRulesonAssignmentandtheCodeofJudicialEthicswereadoptedbytheJudgesandenteredintoforce.

First Plenary of KSC Judges – March 2017


The Rules on AssignmentDate of adoption and entry into force: 14 March 2017

What they regulate:thebasisuponwhichthePresidentassignsJudgestopanelsinspecificproceedings.

Rationale: theadoptionofRulesonAssignment is required byArticle 25 of the Law. Inthisregard,theyareanoveltywhenitcomes totheassignmentofinternationaljudgestocasesdealingwithinternationalcrimes.

Content:theRulesonAssignmentdictatethatfor each assignment to specific proceedings before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, thePresidentshallbeguidedbyobjectivecriteriasuchasexperience,expertise,seniority,genderandgeographicalrepresentation,aswellasbythepreferencesofindividualJudgesandtheiravailabilityatthetimeofthecommencementofspecificproceedings(Rule4(2)oftheRulesonAssignment).ThePresidentissuesapublicdecision on the assignment of Judges to aPanel,settingoutthecriteriaforthepartic-ular assignment. Judges are bound to keepthe President informed about any engagements, activity or any other issue thatmayaffect their future assignment to aPanel inspecificproceedings.

Where to read:theRules on Assignment are publicandcanbeaccessedonthewebsiteoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

The Code of Judicial EthicsDate of adoption and entry into force: 14 March 2017

What it regulates:theprofessionalstandards forjudicialconductandthedisciplinaryregimeapplicabletoJudgesoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

Rationale:theCodeofJudicialEthicsisbasedonArticle27oftheLaw,whichrequiresthatJudges be persons of highmoral character,impartialityandintegrity.

Content:theCodeofJudicialEthicssetsthehighest professional standards of indepen- dence,impartiality,integrityanddiligencefortheJudgesoftheSpecialistChambersincarryingouttheir functions.Furtherprovisionsareincludedregardingobligationsofconfidentiality,courteousconductduringproceedings, respectforstaffmembersandparticipantsintheproceedingsandincommunicationwiththe media. It also provides for disciplinarymeasures incasesofmisconduct.TheCodedefines“seriousmisconduct”and“misconduct ofalessseriousnature”andsetsoutadetailed procedureforanysuchallegationsaswellasdisciplinarymeasurestobeimposed,includingdismissalfromtheRoster.

Where to read:theCodeofJudicialEthics is publicandcanbeaccessedonthewebsiteoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

https://www.scp-ks.org/en/documents/rules-assignment-specialist-chambers-judges-roster-international-judges-14-mar-2017

https://www.scp-ks.org/en/documents/code-judicial-ethics-judges-appointed-roster-international-judges-14-mar-2017


AftertheadoptionoftheRulesonAssignmentandtheCodeofJudicialEthics,thePlenaryproceededwithitsworkontheRulesofProcedureandEvidence.InaccordancewithArticle19(1)oftheLaw,thefourJudgesoftheSpecialistChamber oftheConstitutionalCourt(SCCC)didnottakepart in the deliberation and adoption of this document.Instead,theyretreatedtodiscusstheRulesofProcedurefortheSCCC,which,accordingtoArticle49oftheLaw,areadoptedbytheSCCCJudges only and included in theRules ofProcedureandEvidence.

InpreparingtheRulesofProcedureandEvidence,theJudgesappliedtheLawwithaviewtocomplement itwhileensuringconsistencywith theletterandthespiritoftheKosovoConstitutionand the highest standards of international human rights law. They also sought guidance from the Kosovo Code of Criminal Procedure.Further, they were mindful of the proceduralrulesofearlierestablishedad hoctribunalsandof the International Criminal Court, and drewlessonsfromtheirpractices.Thedraftingprocess wasalsoattentivetotheKosovolegalculturesoas toensurethatproceedingscanbeeasilyfollowed andunderstoodbythepopulationinKosovo.

Followingathree-daydeliberation,theRulesofProcedure and Evidencewere adopted by thePlenaryon17March2017.

Constitutional Review of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence

InaccordancewiththeLaw,theadoptedRulesofProcedure and Evidence were subject to thecomprehensivescrutinyoftheSpecialistChamber oftheConstitutionalCourtinordertodecideontheircompatibilitywithChapterIIoftheKosovoConstitution.

Upontheiradoption,thePresidentreferredtheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceto theSCCC,whichthenhadthirtydaysundertheLawtomake itsdetermination.Uponameticulousreviewofthe adoptedRules of Procedure andEvidence,

Chapter II of the Kosovo Constitution

Chapter II of the Constitution sets out thefundamental rights and freedomsprotectedand guaranteed by Kosovo. Among others,theprincipleofequalitybeforethe law,therighttolife,therighttolibertyandsecurity,therightsoftheaccused, therighttoafairandimpartialtrialandtherighttolegalremediesareenshrinedinthisChapter.

Article 31 consecrates the right to fair and impartialtrial.Paragraph2ofthisArticlestates:

“Everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial public hearing as to the determination of one’s rights and obligations or as to any criminal charges within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.”


on26April2017,theSCCCrendereditsjudgment inwhich it found thatnineoutof the208 rules wereinconsistentwithChapterIIoftheKosovoConstitution,whileitwasunabletomake a determinationinrespectofoneprovision.

Amongst others, the SCCC found a rule to be inconsistent with the Constitution because itprovided for thepossibilityofholdinghearingsforamaximumperiodoffivedaysintheabsence (duetoillnessorpersonalreasons)ofoneofthethree Judges sitting on a Panel. This provisionwas designed by the Plenary – and is appliedelsewhereininternationalcriminalproceedings– to respect the rightof theaccused tobe triedwithoutunduedelay.TheSCCCfound,however,thatallowingforahearingbeforetwoinsteadofafullPanelofthreeJudgeswouldnotconstituteahearing“beforeatribunalestablishedbylaw”,asprescribedbytheConstitution.

TheSCCCalsofoundthatasetofprovisionsthatregulatedspecial investigativemeasuresbytheSpecialist Prosecutor needed more specificityand safeguards to ensure the constitutionallyguaranteedrightsofindividuals.

TheSCCCfurtherfoundunconstitutionalaruleprovidingforthepossibilityofdetainingaperson whohadbeenacquittedbyaTrialPanel,whileanappeal by the Prosecutor against the acquittalwaspending.Althoughthisapproachisknowntointernationalcriminal tribunals, itwasfoundtobeincompatiblewiththeConstitutionbecauseitwasnotforeseenbytheLawanddidnotfallunderoneofthepermissiblegroundsfordeprivationofliberty.

Presiding Judge of the SCCC Ann Power-Forde delivering judgment streamed on the KSC YouTube channel - 26 April 2017

“The Court concurs with the view of the ECtHR on Article 5(1) of the Convention and under-scores the paramount impor tance of the right to liberty in a demo cratic society, its relation-ship with the rule of law and the principles of legal certainty and propor tionality, and its overall purpose which is to ensure that no one should be deprived of his or her liberty in an ‘arbitrary fashion’.”

SpecialistChamberoftheConstitutionalCourt,JudgmentontheReferraloftheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceAdoptedbythePlenaryon17March2017,26April2017,para.197

https://www.scp-ks.org/en/documents/judgment-referral-rules-procedure-and-evidence-26-apr-2017


AsprescribedbytheLaw,therulesfoundtobeinconsistentwiththeConstitutionwerereturnedtotheJudgesinPlenaryfor action on the affected provisions. Consequently, theJudgesheldasecond,remotePlenaryinMay2017todiscusstherelevantrulesandadoptarevisedversionthereof.

TherevisedruleswerethenreferredtotheSCCCforafreshreview.On28June2017,theSCCCdeterminedthatnoneoftherevisedruleswereinconsistentwithChapterIIoftheConstitution.Consequently,theSCCCdeterminedthatthefullsetofRulesofProcedureandEvidencecompliedwithChapterIIoftheConstitution.

Entry into Force of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence

FollowingtheSCCC’scomprehensivereviewanddetermination,theRulesofProcedureandEvidenceentered intoforceon5July2017.Thedrafting,discussionandadoptionoftheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceandthetworeviewsbytheSCCC,werecompletedinlessthansixmonthsaftertheappointmentoftheJudges,whotookheedofbestjudicialpracticesandincorporatedinnovativesolutionsfortheefficientandexpeditiousconductofproceedingsbeforetheSpecialistChambers.

With the entry into force of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence in July 2017, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers became fully judicially operational, able to receive filings ofanyrelevantkindandconductcriminalproceedings.

The Rules of Procedure and Evidence

Date of adoption:17March2017Date of entry into force:5July2017

What they regulate:theconductofproceedingsbeforealllevelsoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

Rationale:asonlythoseprovisionsoftheKosovoCodeofCriminalProcedurespecifically indicated intheLawapplytotheKSC,theLawrequirestheadoptionofRulesofProcedureandEvidence to regulate theconductofproceedings.TheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceoughttoreflectthe“higheststandardsofinternationalhumanrightslawincludingtheECHRandICCPRwithaviewtoensuringafairandexpeditioustrialtakingintoaccountthenature,locationandspecificitiesoftheproceedingstobeheardbytheSpecialistChambers”(Article19(2)oftheLaw).

Content:theRulesofProcedureandEvidencesetout,amongothers,theprocedureforreviewingandconfirmingindictments,disclosure,presentation,admissionandassessment of evidence, deliberation and pronouncementofjudgments,participationofvictimsandmattersrelating to cooperation with Kosovo authorities andThirdStates.TheRulesalsoprovideforarobustsystemfortheprotectionofwitnesses,victimsandotherpersons atriskonaccountoftheircooperationwiththeKSCoronaccountofwitnesstestimony.TheRulesofProcedurefortheSpecialistChamberoftheConstitutionalCourt areincludedintheRulesofProcedureandEvidenceand theyregulatetheproceedingsbeforethatChamber.

Where to read: the Rules of Procedure and Evidence arepublic andcanbeaccessedon thewebsiteof theKosovoSpecialistChambers.

https://www.scp-ks.org/en/documents/rules-procedure-and-evidence-kosovo-specialist-chambers-including-rules-procedure


Theentry into forceof theRulesofProcedureand Evidence created the legal basis for theadoption of further instruments regulating theconduct of the proceedings and the overall operation of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Alargenumberofproceduralinstrumentsregulating various, more technical aspects of the proceedings need to be in place for a smoothfunctioningoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.Theseinstrumentsincludepracticedirectionsonfilingsandspecificprocedurestobeundertakenduringproceedings,guidelinesregardinginternaloperationsofvariousunits,andotherdirectivesandregulations.

While someof these instrumentshavealreadybeen adopted, others are being discussed anddraftedwithaviewtoadoptingtheminthenearfuture,includingaCodeofProfessionalConduct,aPracticeDirectionontheSubmissionofFilingsandaPracticeDirectiononaRulesCommittee.

WhilemanyoftheseinstrumentswereoraretobeadoptedbytheRegistrar,asignificantnumber fallunderthejudicialadministrationresponsibilityofthePresidentandhavetobeadoptedbyher.

For instance, the Rules of Procedure for Staff Appeals (adopted by the President on 11 September 2017) regulate the conduct ofproceedingsforappeals(ofstaff,formerstafforpersonsmakingclaimsinthenameofincapacitatedordeceasedstaff)againstdecisionsoftheRegistraranddisciplinarydecisions(takenbytheRegistrarortheSpecialistProsecutor).ThepurposeoftheRulesofProcedureforStaffAppealsis to ensure equal representation of theviews of the appellant person, the Registrar or the Specialist Prosecutor, as applicable, as well astheexpeditiousresolutionofanymatterbytheStaff Appeals Judge in conformity with due processrequirements.

Another important document approved by thePresident and adopted by the Registrar on 6November2017istheDirective on Counsel,whichsetsouttheeligibilitycriteria,applicationand admission process of lawyers to the Lists of Specialist (Defence) and Victims’ Counsel (seepage41).

4 Building the Procedural Framework


In her capacity of President of the Kosovo SpecialistChambers,JudgeEkaterinaTrendafilova conducted extensive bilateral meetings with representativesofthediplomaticcommunityinTheHagueandBrussels inordertoensurethenecessarysupportforandcooperationwiththeKosovo Specialist Chambers. In June 2017, PresidentTrendafilovaupdatedtheEUPoliticaland Security Committee on developments and

keymilestonesthatwereachievedintheperiodsince her appointment and emphasised thatwithin less than fivemonths since the Judges’ appointment key legal instruments had beenadopted tomake theSpecialistChambers fullyjudicially operational. Representatives of EUMember States and Third Contributing StateswereagainupdatedaboutkeydevelopmentsinDecember2017.

5 External Relations


OutreachActivities


Outreach is pivotal for the Kosovo SpecialistChambersinKosovoandelsewhere.Mindfulofthelessonslearnedregardingtheregion,theaimoftheKosovoSpecialistChambersistobeaccessibleandinteractdynamicallywiththecommunitiesaffectedbytheallegedcrimesfallingunderitsjurisdiction.

Since the KSC are increasingly apparent and discussedinthemedia,it isofvital importancefor the institutionto facilitateagreaterunderstandingof itsmandate andwork, toestablishtrust into the judicial process and to demonstrate that it dispenses justice impartially andindependently.

Forthisreason,awell-calibratedandwide-ranging outreach programme has been developed thatinvolves frequent consultations with organisations,informationsessionswithjournalists,programmes for students, town-hall meetings,roundtable discussions and regular updatesthrough newsletters.The outreach programmeis coordinated by the Public Information andCommunicationsUnit(PICU)anditspurposeistodisseminatetimelyinformationandpromotedialogue on thework of theKosovo SpecialistChambers (seepage37).Byactiveengagement and communication with civil society organisationsandothercommunitiesinKosovo,theKSCintendtocounteractsomeofthecommunication challenges associatedwithmanaging relocated proceedings.

Selected outreach events:

• ConsultationmeetingswithcivilsocietybytheHeadofthePICU–Pristina,April2016• VisittoKosovobytheRegistrarandHeadofthePICU-July/October2016• ConsultationmeetingswithcivilsocietybytheHeadofthePICU–Pristina,January2017• JusticeTransparencyForum–Pristina,April2017• VisitbyagroupofKosovoNGOstotheKSCpremises-TheHague,May2017• Consultationmeetingswithcivilsociety–Pristina,October2017• InformationsessionwithcivilsocietybythePresidentandRegistrar–Pristina,November2017• PresentationtojournalistsfromtheBalkans“Euro-AtlanticintegrationoftheWesternBalkans”bytheDeputyRegistrarandHeadofthePICU–TheHague,December2017

• Consultation meetings with civil society by the PICU, the Defence Office Coordinator and the Head of Victims’ ParticipationOffice–Pristina,February2018

• MeetingoftheDefenceOfficeCoordinatorandtheHeadoftheVictims’ParticipationOfficewithmembersoftheKosovoBarAssociation–Pristina,February2018

SupportedbyagenerousgrantprovidedbytheSwissGovernment,overthenexttwoyears,theKosovoSpecialistChamberswillsubstantiallystrengthenactivitiesandpresenceinKosovo.ThecontributionwillensurethecontinuationoftheworkwithnationalandregionalstakeholdersandfacilitatedialoguewithKosovocitizensandcivilsociety.

Registrar at the Transparency Justice Forum The Registrar and the Head of the Public Information and Communication Unit held an information session with members ofKosovocivilsocietyandmediaon27April2017.As part of the ongoing efforts of theOrganisation for Security andCo-Operation inEurope (OSCE) and theEURule of LawMission inKosovo(EULEX)toenhancetransparencyoftheKosovojudiciary,thisevent enabled participants to become further acquainted with the functioning, mandateand intendedworkof theKSC.AQ&Asession regardingdetailedaspectsoftheKSC’soperationsfollowed.

KSC consultation with Kosovo civil society organisations

On 11 October 2017, the Deputy Registrar, the Defence Office Coordinator,theHeadoftheVictims’ParticipationOfficeandtheHead of thePublic InformationandCommunicationUnitmetwithvarious civil society organisations at the Documentation Centre in Pristina (managedbytheHumanitarianLawCenter).ThemeetingprovidedanimportantforumforcontinueddialoguebetweentheKSCanddifferent communitiesandstakeholdersinKosovo.SinceApril2016, theKSChaveregularlyheldconsultativemeetingswithnongovernmentalorganisationsandothermembersofKosovo’scivilsociety.

President, Registrar and Specialist Prosecutor at Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies

On 17 May 2017, the President, the Registrar and the Specialist Prosecutoraddressed theaudienceofabout300studentsand legalpractitionersat theGrotiusCentre for InternationalLegalStudiesofLeidenSchoolofLaw.TheeventtookplaceonthemarginsoftheICCMootCourt,heldinTheHague.TheeventwasmoderatedbyCarstenStahn,ProfessorofInternationalCriminalLawattheLeidenLawSchool.The presentations by thePresident, theRegistrar and the SpecialistProsecutorwerefollowedbyaQ&Asession.

Registrar and Head of the PICU at the Trans-parency Justice Forum in Pristina – April 2017

Deputy Registrar, Head of Victims’ Participation Office and Defence Office Coordinator speaking to civil society in Pristina - October 2017

President, Registrar and Specialist Prosecutor at the ICC Moot Court Competition - May 2017



The President’s first trip to Kosovo

Between22and25November2017,thePresident undertookherfirstvisittoKosovoinherofficialcapacity,joinedbytheRegistrar.ThetwoprincipalsmetAbelardTahiri, theKosovoMinisterofJustice, Hilmi Jashari, the Ombudsperson ofKosovo,andOsmanHavoli,thePresidentoftheKosovoBarAssociation.

Theyalsoheldbilateralmeetingswithrepresen- tativesoftheUnitedNationsInterimAdministrationMissioninKosovo(UNMIK),theOrganisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe(OSCE)andtheEURuleofLawMissioninKosovo (EULEX). Nataliya Apostolova, the EU SpecialRepresentativetoKosovo,significantlysupported thevisitbyhosting,organisingandmoderatingmeetingswiththerepresentativesofEUMember StatesandThirdContributingStates.

Central to this first visit to Kosovo was an informationsessionforthecivilsociety,whichwascoveredlivebymediathroughoutKosovoandwaswell attended and well received. The Presidentand the Registrar made presentations on thestructure andworkof theSpecialistChambersandengagedinactivedialoguewithparticipants.

After highlighting some of themain priorities oftheKosovoSpecialistChambers,suchasensuring arobustwitnessprotectionsystem,meaningfulparticipationofvictimsandeffectiverepresentationoftheaccused,thePresidentreassuredtheaudience of the commitment of all Judges to providemodelsofbest judicialpractices and to establishtheKSCasasolid,secure,reliable and justinstitution.

Duringhertrip,thePresidentrepeatedlyemphasised a number of fundamental messages to thepopulationofKosovoabout:thedifferencebetween the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office; the concept of individual criminal responsibility enshrined intheLaw,asopposedtotheallegedtargetingofgroupsororganisations;andtheobligationanddeterminationoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers toconductfair,independent,impartial,safeandexpeditiousproceedings.

Reaching out to students and practitioners

The KSCVisitors’ Program developed in 2016hasprovidedstudentsandothergroupswiththeopportunitytovisitthepremisesoftheKosovoSpecialist Chambers. During such visits, representativesoftheKosovoSpecialistChambersaswellasoftheSpecialistProsecutors’Officespeak

President and Registrar at the civil society event in Pristina - November 2017

about theirwork.On behalf of Chambers, thePresident,herChefdeCabinetandlegalofficersregularly speak to students and other groups visitingthepremises.OnbehalfoftheRegistry,theRegistrar,theDeputyRegistrar,theLegalCounsel orotherstaffaddresstheguests.

During2016and2017,approximately400students from fourteen different universities in EuropeandtheUnitedStatesparticipatedintheprogram. Visitors have the opportunity to askquestionsanddiscussrelevanttopics.

The President, the Registrar and other representatives of the Kosovo Specialist Chambershave also provided keynote lectures and presentations on the KSC at universities, thereby disseminatinginformationontheworkandmandateoftheinstitutiontotheyoungergenerationoflawyers.


KSC Visitors’ Program (right) President, Registrar, and Specialist Prosecutor lecturing at The Hague Campus of Leiden University on the occasion of the ICC Moot Court Competition - May 2017 (bottom)


Contact with the media

ThePresidenthasactivelyengagedwithKosovoandinternationalmedia.InMay2017,shegaveherfirstpressconferenceinTheHagueandinformedattendingjournalistsofthemilestones achieved. The President has also been interviewedbyseveralmediaoutlets.

Excerpts from Interviews of President Trendafilova

How is this court different and how will you, as a judge, make sure that it fulfils its mandate?The Specialist Chambers are created by a constitutionalamendment that was enacted by the Kosovo parliamentwithatwo-thirdsmajority.[…]

Only international judgesmayadjudicateat theSpecialistChambers.Thischoiceshowsthat theKosovoparliamenthadtheutmostregardfortheindependenceandintegrity

of this institution, future prosecutions before it and thesafetyofwitnessesandvictims(BIRN,2017).

How do you respond to the criticism that the Specialist Chambers are biased because they only deal with one ethnic group, Kosovo Albanians?TheSpecialistChamberswillnotprosecuteanyethnicgroup.They will not prosecute any organisation. The SpecialistChamberswillonlyprosecuteandholdaccountableindividual persons.TheLaw(ontheSpecialistChambersandSpecialist Prosecutor’sOffice)clearlyprovidesforindividualcriminalresponsibility,whichmeansthatpersonsmayonlybeheldaccountableforcrimestheycommittedas individuals,notas representativesofanethnicgroup,ofcommunities,oranyothergroups(BIRN,2017).

How will you ensure court efficiency?TheRulesofProcedureandEvidencewereadoptedbytheSpecialistChambersJudgeswithfairnessandexpeditiousness,impartialityandsecurityinmind.

Tightdeadlineshavebeensetbothfortheconductofvariousphasesofproceedingsandforthedischargeofofficialduties,includingrenderingofdecisionsandjudgments.[…]Moreover,theRulesimposeanobligationontheJudgesandtheParties tomanageandorganizeefficientlytheconductoftheproceedings.TheJudges,myselfincluding,arethusverykeenonmakingtheproceedingsoftheSpecialistChambersefficient and expeditious. That being said, efficiency and expeditiousnesscannotgotothedetrimentofthefundamentalrightsofanyonehavingstandingintheproceedings–suspects,accused,victims,andwitnesses(KosovaSot,2017).

Does any person in Kosovo, such as politicians, have immunity from the court?Thereisnoimmunityforanyoneregardlessoftheirposition,andamnestyalsocannotapply(Reuters,2017).President Ekaterina Trendafilova

speaking to Reuters journalists.


REGISTRY

Registry

TheRegistry,underthedirectionoftheRegistrar, performsadiverse rangeofadministrativeandjudicialsupportfunctions.AccordingtoArticle34of the Law, the Registry is responsible for theservicingoftheKosovoSpecialistChambersandallnecessaryandaffiliatedfunctions.Thisincludes the provision of administrative support to theworkofChambersand theSPO in thefieldofbudget,finance,procurement,humanresourcesandsecurity.Thejudicialsupportfunctionsinclude

providingsupportandprotectionforwitnesses,administrationofthelegalaidandvictimparticipation systems, translation and interpretationservicesandcourtmanagement.TheRegistrarisalsoresponsibleformanagingtheKSC’sdetentionfacilities and various external diplomatic functions, including negotiating cooperation agreementswithStates.

TheRegistrar,DrFidelmaDonlon,wasappointedinApril2016.DrDonlonwaspreviouslyHeadoftheCourtPlanningTeam.PriortotheofficialestablishmentoftheRegistryinApril2016,theCourtPlanningTeamhaddoneconsiderablework,whichpavedthewayforastarttotheRegistry’soperationsintheHostStateandfortheSpecialistChambers’ progressive capacity building. TheDeputy Registrar, Dr Guido Acquaviva, assiststheRegistrarinherfunctions.

Fromtheoutsetofoperations,theRegistrarsetand managed the strategic plan and timelines tobuild the logistical, administrative, legal andjudicialcapabilitiesoftheKSC.ActingonbehalfoftheRegistryandinchargeoftheadministrationoftherelocatedjudicialproceedings,theRegistrar signs the grant agreement(s) regulating the financing of the KSC and the SPO with the EuropeanCommission. She ensures that fundsallocated by EU Member States and Third Contributing States aremanaged economicallyandefficientlytosupporttheeffectiveoperations oftheKSCandSPO.

In accordancewith theHost StateAgreement,theRegistrarrepresentstherelocatedinstitutions (the KSC and SPO) in theNetherlands. In this capacity, she continuously engages with theDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs,theMinistryofRegistrar Dr Fidelma Donlon



JusticeandSecurity,thePrisonServiceandtheCityofTheHague.TheRegistraralsomaintainsdiplomaticdialoguewith representativesofEUMember States, Third Contributing States andothermembersofthediplomaticcommunityinTheHaguetomanagemattersrelatedtocooperationagreementswiththeRegistry.ShealsoengageswiththeEURuleofLawMissioninKosovo(EULEX),theEUSpecialRepresentativeinKosovo,membersofthediplomaticcommunityinKosovo

aswell as the KosovoMinistry of Justice.TheRegistrarregularlyvisitsKosovo.

The Registry comprises the Immediate Office of the Registrar, the Public Information and CommunicationUnit, theAuditOfficeandtwodivisions–theJudicialServicesDivisionandtheDivision of Administration. The independent Office oftheOmbudspersonalsositswithintheRegistryforadministrativepurposes.

1 Immediate Office of the Registrar (IOR)

TheIORsupportstheworkoftheRegistrarandDeputyRegistrar,includingtheprovisionoflegaladviceontheKosovoSpecialistChambers’mandate and administrative procedures, aswell ascommunicatingwiththeHostState,theEuropeanExternalActionService,diplomaticmissions and otherorganisations.TheIORisalsoresponsiblefor regulating and overseeing the informationgovernanceregulationsoftheSpecialistChambers.

SincetheestablishmentoftheRegistry,asignificant number of rules and regulations requiredfor theeffectiveadministrationand supportofproceedings were adopted as a result oftheworkoftheIOR.

The Legal Counsel within the IOR provides independent legal adviceon the applicationoftheHostStateAgreement, theStaffRules, theCodeofConduct forStaffMembers,privileges

and immunities, cooperation with States, the Registry’sadministrativegovernanceregulationsandothertopics.

TheIORalsosupportstheRegistrar’smanagement of external relations and cooperation with representatives of EU Member States, ThirdContributing States andothermembers of thediplomaticcommunityinKosovoandinTheHague. The IORalso assists theRegistrar inmanagingrelations with the European External Action ServiceandtheEuropeanCommissiononadministrativematters related to themanagement oftheGrantAgreement.


The Registrar has adopted:

• TheStaff Rules;• TheCode of Conductforstaffmembers(AnnextotheStaffRules);• TheDirective on Counsel;• 25AdministrativeDirectives,14 Operational Instructions and7 Information Circulars in the areas of human

resources management,security,informationsecurity,assets,informationtechnology,financeandprocurement.

STRUCTURE OF THE REGISTRY

Ombudsperson’s OfficeREGISTRARDEPUTYREGISTRAR

Division of Administration

HumanResourcesUnit

FinanceandBudgetUnit

ProcurementUnit

FacilityManagementandGeneralServicesUnit

SecurityandSafetyUnit

InformationTechnologyServicesUnit

WitnessProtectionandSupportOffice

ChambersLegalSupportUnit

DefenceOffice

DetentionManagementUnit

LanguageServicesUnit

CourtManagementUnit

Victims’ParticipationOffice

Judicial Services Division

PublicInformationand CommunicationUnit

KosovoOfficeImmediateOffice oftheRegistrar

AuditOffice


InlinewiththeRegistry’sprioritisationofsecureinformation management, the Information Governance Unit (InfoGov) within the IOR adviseson themanagementofdigital,physicalandaudio-visualrecordsandarchives,aswellascompliance with data protection standards. InfoGov has generated policies, guidelines andproceduresfororganisation-widerecordkeepingthat ensure the KSC are meeting information security requirements. InfoGov monitors the applicationofthepolicies,guidelinesandprocedures across all units.

InfoGovhasalsodevelopedaweb-basedintranetandset-uptheKosovoSpecialistChamberslibrary.LibraryservicesincludeinterlibraryloanssuppliedbythePeacePalaceLibraryinTheHague.

ThePublicInformationandCommunicationUnitmanagesexternalcommunicationsandtheoutreach programme of the Kosovo SpecialistChambers,inaccordancewiththeKSCcommunicationstrategy.Theaimistoincreaseknowledgeandawarenessabouttheworkandmandateofthe KSC and ensure an ongoing dialoguewith localactorsinKosovoandtheregion.

ThePICUstrengthensdirectcommunicationwith Kosovosocietythroughaninformationnetworkinvolvingcivilsociety,youth,legalprofessionals,media andothers.Through active engagementwithcommunitiesinKosovoandinternationally,

2 Public Information and Communication Unit (PICU)

Information Security

• InfoGovcoordinatesallaspectsoftheinformation security programme topreserve the confidentiality, integrityandavailabilityofallrecords.

• Accesstodataisstrictlyona‘need-to-know’basis.

• Allrecordsareclassifiedandprotected toadegreethatcorrespondstotheirlevelsofsensitivityandlikelyprejudice arising from their unauthorised disclosure.

KSC Factsheets


thePICUaimstocounteractsomeofthecommunication challenges associated with managingrelocated proceedings.

Toachievethewidestpossiblereach,thePICUcoordinatesKSCmediarelations,answersmediaqueriesonadailybasis,andorganisespressconferences,backgroundbriefsandopinionpolls.

ThePICUprovidesallrelevantinformationaboutKSC’s mandate and proceedings through atri-lingual website, factsheets and the KSC

YouTube channel. Furthermore, itmanages theHague-basedVisitorsProgrammeforstudentsandinterestedaudiences.Duringthereportingperiod,thePICUspecificallyfocusedonmaximising outreachinKosovowithaffectedcommunities,civilsocietyandmediaandfacilitatedthemediarelationsandoutreacheventsheldbythePresidentand Registrar.

Head of the PICU speaking at the Kosovo Women's Network meeting in Pristina - 2018


TheOfficeoftheOmbudspersonisanimportantfeatureoftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.Ithas themandate independently tomonitor,defendandprotectthefundamentalhumanrightsandfreedoms of persons interactingwith the KSCandSPO.Inshort,thefunctionoftheOmbuds-personistoevaluatetheKSCandSPO’scompliancewithinternationalhumanrightsstandards.

As part of its function, the Office of the Ombudspersonisrequiredtoestablisharobustcomplaints procedure where individuals may assert violations of their fundamental constitutionalrightsbytheKSCorSPO.Onceacomplaintis received, theOmbudspersonwillevaluate thecomplaint and, where appropriate, conduct inquiries into any alleged violations and subsequentlyissueafinalreportwithrecommendations

to the President or the Specialist Prosecutor. Aspartofitsmonitoringfunction,theOmbuds- personmayalsoprovideongoingadvicetotheKSC and SPO with the aim of ensuring strictcompliance with the highest human rights standards. The Ombudsperson may not intervene in legal proceedingsbefore theSpecialistChambers except in instances of unreasonabledelays. It is important to emphasise that theOmbudsperson will at all times remain independentandimpartial.

In 2017, Legal Counsel for the Office of the Ombudsperson began developing the capacitytoevaluatecomplaints,monitorcomplianceandconduct outreach, in preparation for the appointmentoftheOmbudspersonin2018.

3 Audit Office

4 Office of the Ombudsperson

TheInternalAuditorcontributestoinstitutionalgovernance and accountability by conducting internal audits and reporting to the Registrar.TheAuditoradherestointernationalprofessionalstandardsoninternalauditingandtheEUFinancialRegulationsandadvisesonmeasurestoimprove

governance.Auditsoffinance,procurementandhumanresourcesmanagementareconductedonaregularbasisintheRegistryandtheSPO.


TheJudicialServicesDivisioniscomprisedoftheCourtManagementUnit,theLanguageServicesUnit,theDefenceOffice,theVictims’Participation Office,theWitnessProtectionandSupportOffice andtheDetentionManagementUnit.

5.1 Court Management Unit (CMU)

OnbehalfoftheRegistrar,theCMUisthecustodian ofalljudicialrecords,responsibleforallfilingsandformaintainingtheintegrityofphysicalevidence.TheCMUservicescourthearings,ensuring thatthecourtroomhasthenecessaryequipmentand staffing,managesandstoresallcaserecords,and provides advice to both the Registrar andChambers on procedural matters. The CMU requests translation services for proceedings,andreceivesanddistributesalldocumentsandevidencetothepartiesandparticipants.

TheCMUprocuredanelectroniccourtmanagementsystem(LegalWorkflow)forreceivinganddistributingfilings,whichitthenconfiguredandsuccessfullylaunched.Interiminstructionsonfilingswerealsodraftedandadopted. Allcourtroomproceedingsarevideo-andaudio-recordedbytheCMU.TwohearingsbeforetheSpecialistChamberof theConstitutionalCourt(SCCC)tookplacein2017,withtranscriptsandaudio-visualrecordspreparedinthethreeofficial languages of the KSC: Albanian, Serbian andEnglish.

5.2 Language Services Unit (LSU)

LanguageservicesinthethreeofficiallanguagesoftheKSCareprovidedbytheLSU.TheUnit’sservicesenforcetheKSC’sfirmcommitmenttopublic relations and outreach activities in the region,aswellastheprinciplesoftransparencyandaccessibility.

The LSU comprises among others translators, revisers,courtinterpreters,languageandterminologyassistants.Together,theyprovidelanguage servicesformeetingsandcourthearingsinfullcompliancewiththehighestinternationalstan-dards.TheLSUhasalsoprovidedexpertinputonthe highly specific technical requirements forcourtroom interpretation facilities, formulatedimportant internal policies and guidelines, andprocuredtechnologythatwillautomatetheprocessoftranslationrequestsanddelivery.

5 Judicial Services Division

Legal Workflow

The KSC have built tools electronically to receive, maintain anddistribute case records.TheCMUprocured anelectroniccourt managementsystem,whichitconfiguredtotheneedsoftheKSC,whilebeingguidedbybestpracticesdevelopedintherecords management of complex trials. This Legal Workflow system is capableof servicingall aspectsofKSCproceedingsandallowsJudges,partiesandotherparticipantstoview,analyse, discloseandpresentallevidencewithinoneintegratedsystem.


The LSU has produced thousands of pages oftranslation, including translating legal documents such as the Rules of Procedure and Evidence,theRulesofProcedureandthejudgmentsoftheSCCC,otherfilingsaswellastheDirectiveonCounselandsupportworkfortheSPO.Finally,animportantpartoftheLSU’sworkis producing translations for the KSCwebsite,ensuring it is user-friendly in all three official languages.

5.3 Defence Office (DO)

A robust defence is essential to a fair trial. TheDefenceOfficeensurestherightsofsuspects andaccusedbyestablishingandmaintainingalist ofhighlyqualified,experiencedandcompetentdefencecounselwhomeetthestandardsof integrityandhonestyrequiredforfairproceedings.Inaddition,theDOadministersalegalaidsystem toensurehighlyqualifiedrepresentationofindigentorpartially indigentsuspectsandaccusedbeforetheKSCandprovidesadministrativesupporttoalldefencecounsel.

Significantly,aspartoftheRegistry,theDefenceOfficeperformsaneutralfunctionintheinterests ofjusticeandisnotinvolvedinthefactuallitigationofanycases.ThemandateoftheDefenceOfficeistoensurefairnessforallsuspectsandaccusedbeforetheKSCbyguaranteeingthatthehighestinternationalhumanrightsstandardsaremetastheDOcarriesoutitsfunctions.

During the reportingperiod, inclosecoordinationwith theVictims’ ParticipationOffice andLegal Counsel in the IOR, the Defence Officeworked on drafting theDirective on Counsel,whichtheRegistraradoptedon6November2017

upon approval of the President after consultationwiththeJudges.

Upon the adoption of the Directive, the KSC issued an open-ended call for applications. Withinthefirsttwomonthsofthecall,morethan70CounselappliedforadmissiontotheList, and the Defence Office continues to receive andevaluate new applications. In addition, theDOhas conducted outreach events in Kosovo to encourageapplicationsbyeligible counsel.TheDefenceOfficeCoordinatormetwithrepresentatives from the Kosovo Bar Association, representativesoftheAssociationofDefenceCounseloftheInternationalCriminalTribunals(ADC-ICT), aswellasattendeesofthe‘InternationalMeetingoftheDefence’inNuremberg,Germany.

TheDefenceOfficehasalsofocuseditseffortsonestablishingalegalaidsystemthatmeetsfairtrial standards and the requirements of sound financialmanagement.TogetherwiththeVictims’ Participation Office and the IOR, the DO hasbeenworkingonaCodeofProfessionalConductforCounsel.

Directive on Counsel

TheDirectiveregulatestheeligibilityandapplicationprocedureforinclusioninaListofCounsel,ongoingobligationsofdefencecounseladmittedtotheList,aswellasthemodalitiesforwith-drawalandremovalfromtheList.

TheDirective applies to both privately retained and legal aidcounsel.OnlythosecounselwhoareeligibletobeadmittedtotheListcanrepresentsuspectsandaccusedbeforetheKosovoSpecialistChambers.


5.4 Victims’ Participation Office (VPO)

The Law provides for victims’ participation incriminalproceedingsbeforetheKosovoSpecialistChambers.TheVPOisresponsibleforadministeringthesystemofparticipationandprovidingassistancetovictimsparticipatinginproceedings.TheearlyestablishmentandworkoftheVPOisdesignedtoensuretheeffectiveparticipationofvictimsinfuturetrials.VictimswillparticipateingroupsdesignatedbyaPanelineachparticularcaseandexercisetheirrightsthroughassignedVictims’Counsel.TheVPOmanagesthesystemof victims’ participation, including the List ofVictims’CounselentitledtoappearbeforetheKSCandpaymentforlegalrepresentation.

TheVPO hasworked on the development of internalgovernanceregulationsinclosecooperationwithotherRegistryunits.

It has also prepared guidance and outreach materials for potential victims. Outreach to affectedcommunitiesinKosovohasbeenaprimaryfocusfortheVPO,butithasalsofocusedon activities involving the legal community. Theaimofthesemeetingsisto raise awareness and explain the application process and its requirements.

Who is a victim in proceedings before the KSC?

“Anaturalpersonwhohassufferedphysical,material, or mental harmasadirectresultofacrimeallegedinanindictmentconfirmedbythePre-TrialJudge”.(Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence)

Onceanindictmentisconfirmed,avictimmayapplyandreceivethe procedural status of victim participating in proceedings beforetheKosovoSpecialistChambers.

Victims’ Counsel

Victims’Counselmustdemonstratefiveyears ofrelevantexperienceincriminalproceedings involvingvictims,includingvulnerablevictims,withinthe7to10yearsofrelevantexperienceincriminalproceedingsrequiredforallcounsel.Thiswillguaranteethatvictimsarerepresentedbyqualifiedcounselwhowillbeinapositiontotacklethechallengesofgrouprepresentation.

Head of VPO speaking to civil society in Mitrovica - 2018


5.5 Witness Protection and Support Office (WPSO)

OnbehalfoftheRegistrar,theWPSOisresponsibleforensuringthesafetyandwellbeingofwitnesses,victimsparticipatingintheproceedingsand,whereappropriate,othersatriskonaccountoftestimonygivenbywitnesses.

Inrelationtoanypersonfallingunderitspurview, theWPSOwillemployacomprehensiveassessmentprocesstoensurethatanypotentialrisksaremanagedandthatthemeasuresrecommended arethebestavailable.

In its implementation of protection programs,the WPSO will manage support and security arrangements for all witnesses and others, including measures ordered by KSC Panels. TheWPSOmayalso recommend theadoption ofin-courtprotectivemeasures.

Additionally, theWPSOwill be responsible forassessingifwitnessesneedmedicalandpsychologicalsupportand/orcounsellingbefore,duringandafterproceedings.TheWPSOwillofferindividually-tailoredsupportandassistancetowit

nesseswhoaretraumatised,vulnerable,ormayhaveparticular family,gender,cultural,medical,or special needs, includingwitnesseswhomayhave beenvictims of sexual and gender-based violence.

Maximising the support afforded towitnesses,theWPSOispreparedtomanageallthelogisticsandoperationalarrangementsforwitnessesandotherstoattendandtestify.Forexample,ithasdevelopedthein-housecapacitytopreparetravel and accommodation arrangements, witnessescorts and arrangements for witness supportpersons.

5.6 Detention Management Unit (DMU)

TheDMUisresponsibleforthemanagementandadministration of the KSC detention facilities. Itsmandateistoensurethatthosedetainedunder KosovoSpecialistChambers’authorityareheldinaccordancewithinternationalstandards,goodpractices in detention and the applicable law. Additionally,theroleoftheDMUistoadvisetheRegistrar onmatters pertaining to detention, torespond to requests for informationwith speedandaccuracy,andtomaintaintheabilityofthoseincustodytoparticipateintheproceedings.

ThemanagementteamoftheDMU,composedof KSC staff members, will select prison stafffromtheDutchPrisonServicesfortheoperationoftheDetentionUnit,whichwillholdsuspects,accusedandothersdetainedundertheauthorityoftheKSC.TheDMUwillworkcloselywiththeDutchPrisonServicestoensurethatthoseheldin the Detention Unit are held in accordancewithagreedprotocols,andDMUstaffwillpro

Victims’ Counsel

Victims’Counselmustdemonstratefiveyears ofrelevantexperienceincriminalproceedings involvingvictims,includingvulnerablevictims,withinthe7to10yearsofrelevantexperienceincriminalproceedingsrequiredforallcounsel.Thiswillguaranteethatvictimsarerepresentedbyqualifiedcounselwhowillbeinapositiontotacklethechallengesofgrouprepresentation.

WPSO ensures the safety and wellbeing of witnesses, victims participating in the proceedings and other persons deemed to be at risk on account of testimony given by witnesses.


videmanagement,administrationand languagetranslationfacilitiestotheDetentionUnit.

Duringthereportingperiod,theDMU,togetherwith the IOR, focusedondrafting theRulesofDetentionandotherinternalguidelinesincompliancewithboth theUnitedNationsStandardMinimumRules for theTreatment ofPrisoners(Nelson Mandela Rules) and the European

Prison Rules. Notably, the Rules of ProcedureandEvidencerequirethatdetentionfacilitiesbeinspected and monitored by the InternationalCommitteeof theRedCrossandalsoallow theOmbudspersontoinspectthedetentionfacilitiesatanytimeandwithoutnotice.

The Division of Administration provides all administrative and technical support services.The Division comprises six units: Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Facilities Management and General Services, SecurityandSafety,FinanceandBudgetaswellasProcurement.TheHeadofDivisionreportstothe Registrar and supervises the day-to-day operationsoftheunits.Throughoutthereporting period,theDivisiontackledthechallengesusually involvedinbuildinganinstitutionandisdeliveringall support services to ensure full operational capacity.

6.1 Human Resources Unit (HRU)

The HRU provides human resources support,adviceandservicestoallpersonneloftheKSCandtheSPO.Theunitmanagestherecruitmentprocess,theadministrationofsalariesandben- efits, staffwelfare and training, aswell as the performanceevaluationprocess.Acentral taskoftheHRUisthepromotionofasupportivework environment. This includes raising awareness

and training on stress management and the provisionofcounsellingservices,asrequired.

Following the adoption of the Staff Rules andtheCodeofConductbytheRegistrar, incoor-dinationwiththeIOR,theHRUdevelopedandimplementedawiderangeofadministrativedirectives,includingproceduresonstaffselection,performance appraisal, internships and leavemanagementthatarerequiredfortheeffectivemanagementoftheKSC.Asaprincipleenshrined inallregulations,staffselectionproceduresarefair, transparent and non-discriminatory whilstmaintaining confidentiality and personal dataprotection.

Therecruitmentandselectionofnewstaffmembers for theKSC and SPOhas been a priorityduring the reporting period. Five Calls for Contributions (CfC’s) advertising vacancies in both institutionswere publicised. The effective managementofCfC’sresultedinthegrowthofboth institutions and an increase in staff from 53in2016to148in2017.Additionally,through

6 Division of Administration


twoCfC’sdedicatedtointernships,theHRUhasalso facilitated the placement of 27 interns. Staff are recruited to meet operational needs,takingintoaccounttheneedforgenderbalanceandregionaldistribution.

The secondment of qualified personnel from EUMemberStatesaswellasfromThirdContribut-ing States is actively encouraged. During thereportingperiod,thenumberofsecondedstaffrangedfrom9to14andon31December2017

totalled 11 seconded staffmembers from fourdifferentEUMemberStates (Germany, Ireland,theNetherlands and theUnitedKingdom) andtwo Third Contributing States (Switzerland andtheUSA).Fouradditionalsecondmentsareexpected in the first half of 2018 from three additionalEUMemberStates(Bulgaria,Hungaryand Malta). The KSC and SPO remain fully engaged at the diplomatic level to encourageStatestosecondqualifiedpersonnelforvacanciesadvertised.

40% Female

60% Male

Staff Gender Balance of the KSC and SPO

National Balance of Staff of the KSC and SPO

Total Staff Members of the KSC and SPO

53 55 55 56 56 62 6774 76

84

109120

127138 143 145143 144 145149 148150

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

End

of

AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatia

Czech RepublicDenmark

FinlandFrance

GermanyGreece

HungaryIreland

ItalyLatvia

LithuaniaNetherlands

PolandPortugalRomaniaSlovenia

SpainSweden

United KingdomCanada

SwitzerlandUnited States

3

2

2

9

2

2

6

2

10

11

7

5

2

1

333

3

8

5

6

4

24

1

1

5

5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Mar

-16

Apr-

16

May

-16

Jun-

16

Jul-1

6

Aug-

16

Sep-

16

Oct

-16

Nov

-16

Dec

-16

Jan-

17

Feb-

17

Mar

-17

Apr-

17

May

-17

Jun-

17

Jul-1

7

Aug-

17

Sep-

17

Oct

-17

Nov

-17

Dec

-17


6.2 Information Technology Services Unit (ITSU)

TheITSUprovidessecureinformationtechnology (IT)andaudio/visualservicestosupportthework oftheKosovoSpecialistChambers.TheunithasbuiltthecoreITinfrastructureandsoftwaresystemsoftheKSCfromthegroundup.

Themajorobjectivesachievedincludethelaunch oftheKosovoSpecialistChamberswebsiteandintranet,aswellastheinstallationofthe“VBlock”system, on which all KSC applications run. Thissystemremovedtheneedforalargenumber ofserversandnetworkdevicestobeindividuallyconfigured,maintainedandmonitored.

Robust network security tools have been fullyintegratedandtested,andtheITSUalsorolledout applications for translations, transcriptionsandremoteaccesssolutionstofacilitatesecure,remote work by Judges and other personnel. IncoordinationwiththeCMU,LegalWorkflow,theKSC’selectroniccourtmanagementtool,hasalsobeenimplemented.

TheITSU,incoordinationwiththeHostState,hasparticipatedinthedesignandimplementationofthefutureITinfrastructureandtheaudio-visualcapabilitiesoftheKSCcourtroom.Thetemporary

premises havebeen suppliedwith audio-visualequipment,whichenabledthesuccessfulmanagementofthefirstinaugurationoftheJudges,thefirstplenarysessions,VIPvisitsandpressevents.

6.3 Facilities Management and General Services Unit (FMGSU)

TheFMGSUenabledthetransitionofstafffromBrussels to the temporary premises and deliveredthecurrentworkingenvironmentforstaffmembers.

TheFMGSUmanagesbuildingmaintenance,officespaceallocation,mailandpouchservices,cleaning andwastemanagement,travelandtransportation andlogistics.ItalsomanagesprotocolfordiplomaticbriefingsandVIPvisitsaswellasthecoordinationofevents.

TheunitcoordinatesacrosstheKSCandSPOtoensure thatall functional specifications for thenewpremisesareprovidedtotheHostStatesothatsafeandsecureproceedingswilltakeplaceinthenewpremises.

ITSU have rolled out a secure and advanced IT environment that is both scalable and resilient to support all processes of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, including its judicial proceedings.

FMGSU has established func-tional office space for the KSC and SPO, facilitating the growth of both institutions. It is respon-sible for managing the tempo-rary premises and assisting all new staff with protocol matters in the Host State.


6.4 Security and Safety Unit (SSU)

TheSSUprovidesabroadspectrumofsecurityservices for all operationsandactivitiesof theKosovoSpecialistChambers.

The primary objective of the SSUhas been to design,deliverandsustainaneffectivesecuritycultureamongallstaffandtomitigatesecurityriskstostaff,operationsandassets.

TheunitworkscloselywiththeauthoritiesoftheHost State and continuallymonitors theKSC’sthreatprofiletoensureanappropriatesecurityresponse.TheSSUhassetupaneffectiveframeworktomanagerisksassociatedwithmissionsandotheroperationsrelatedtojudicialproceedings.

6.5 Finance and Budget Unit (FBU)

TheFBUsupportstheRegistrarinthefinancialmanagement and implementationof theGrantAgreementaccordingtoEUandinternalfinancial rulesandregulations.UnderthedirectionoftheRegistrar,theFBUisresponsibleforcoordinatingtheplanningandpreparationoftheannualbudget. It is also responsible formakingpayments andrecording expenditures, strengthening internalfinancial controls and providing on-site assistance and training.

EU Member States approved a budget of€29,100,000fortheperiodfrom15June2016to 14 June 2017 in Council Decision (CFSP)2016/947;andabudgetof€41,314,000fortheperiod from15June2017to14June2018 inCouncilDecision(CFSP)2017/973.

In addition to the funds granted by the EU, theKSChavereceivedfundsfromtheNorwegian governmenttotallingNOK80,000,000tosupport therelocationofproceedingstothenewpremisesin The Hague. In December 2017, the Swiss governmentconfirmedfundingof€181,200forKSCoutreachactivitiesin2018and2019.

SSU has created a foundation of security awareness throughout the KSC to reduce vulnerabilities. It has adopted the European External Action Service interactive security training programs (BASE and SAFE) to enhance staff awareness and optimise individual decision making to reduce personal, operational and reputational risk.

FBU assists the Registrar by ensuring the proper use and sound financial management of funds allocated to the KSC. The financial accounts are regularly subject to expenditure verifications by an external audit firm. Since establishment, expenditure verifications have not identified any findings.


The FBU continues to support a lean andself-standing administration by putting intoplaceanarrayofsystems,rulesandproceduresthatensurethesoundfinancialmanagementoffunds.Independentexpenditureverificationsofthe financial accounts are performed regularlybyanexternalauditfirminaccordancewiththeGrantAgreement,andno factualfindingshavebeen identified. At the end of each reporting period, the closed accounts and expenditure verification reports are submitted to the ServiceforForeignPolicyInstrument(FPI)oftheEuropean Commission.

6.6 Procurement Unit (PU)

TheProcurementUnitisresponsibleforallprocurement and contracting of supplies, servicesandworks.Contractsareawardedbased on principles of transparency, proportionality, equaltreatmentandnon-discrimination.

Inadditiontomanagingtheprocurementneedsfor the KSC’s start-up and current operations,theProcurementUnitensuresKSCcompliancewithEUregulations(EUPRAG)foritsprocurement actions. In close collaboration with the IOR’s Legal Counsel and the European Commission,thePUhasalsodevelopedacustomisedprocedure for acquisition of counsel suitable to theKosovo Specialist Chambers’ specific judicial requirements. Additionally, the ProcurementUnitperformscontractadministrationandmonitoring,aswellasmarketinvestigations.

During the reporting period, 173 procurement procedures have been initiated, and 90 different service and supply contracts have been concluded, ranging in value from € 2,500 to € 1 million.


SPECIALISTPROSECUTOR’S OFFICE


In 2011, with the unanimous support of the PoliticalandSecurityCommitteeoftheEuropean CouncilandthebackingoftheUnitedStates,theSpecial Investigative Task Force (SITF) was established in Brussels as a unit within the EuropeanUnionMissioninKosovotoinvestigate allegationsmadeintheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope’sReport,Inhuman treat-ment of people and illicit trafficking in human o rgans in Kosovo,of7January2011.

LearningfromtheexperiencesofotherprosecutorialandjudicialauthoritiesoperatinginKosovo,theSITFputinplacepracticestosafeguardtheconfidentialityofitsdataandoperations,aswellastheprivacyofpersonsinvolvedintheinvestigation.Moreover, it placed great emphasis onwitnesssecurityandpreservingtheintegrityofitsinvestigations.Andthesepracticeshavebeencarried through to the Specialist Prosecutor’sOffice (SPO). Moving forward, we shall be explainingasmuchaswecan–inlinewithourlegal,professionalandethicalobligations–aboutwhatwearedoingandhowwearedoingit.

Forjusticetobedone,itmustalsobeseentobedone.Inadditiontocollectingevidence,engag-ingvictimsandvictimsgroups,andinterviewingwitnesses,theSITF,fromitsinception,urgedtheEU to support the creation of a court outside Kosovo tohold secure, independent, impartial,fairandefficientcriminalproceedingstoaddressissuesresultingfromitsinvestigations.Thiswasnecessarytogiveconfidencetovictims,witness-esandthosewhomaybeputinperilbycooper-

atingwiththeinvestigation,aswellastoensurethattheinstitutionwouldbefreefrominfluenceorinterference,independentandcredible.

In thisway,we firmly believed thatwewouldthen be in a position to fulfil our obligations undertheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights: toadequatelysafeguardthosewhoarevictims,witnesses,andotherpersonsatriskonaccountof informationprovidedtoorcooperationwiththeSITF.Throughout,thishasbeenofparamountimportancetotheSITFandtheSPO.Rule30oftheRulesofProcedureandEvidencenowmakesthisanobligationoftheSpecialistProsecutor.

The other cornerstone of success remains thefullengagementofstatesandorganisations,andindividualswho assist in the investigationand,whenrequired,testifyinanyfuturetrialproceed-ings. Continued assistance from authorities in Belgrade and Pristina, as well as from the European Union and the wider internationalcommunityisessentialtotheinvestigation:fromreleasing contemporaneous documents, grant-ing access to former officials, conductinginvestigations outside Kosovo and providing optionsforwitnesssecurity.

Sinceitsestablishmenton1September2016,theSPOhasbeengiventhemeans,legalframeworkandadministrativeandlogisticalsupporttoenableittooperate.ThetaskoftheSpecialistProsecutornowistodiligently,withintegrityanddignity,carryout an effective and expeditious investigation,andbringanyindictmenttotrialpromptly.

Foreword


Theperiod under investigation encompasses aperiodof intensive involvementofthe interna-tionalcommunityinKosovocoveringeffortsbothtoendtheconflict,thatcausedenormoussuffer-ingamongallcommunities,andtostabilisethepost-conflictsituation.ThemandateoftheSPOislimitedtothosecriminaloffencesinrelationto allegationsofgravetrans-boundaryandinternationalcrimescommittedduringandintheaftermathof theconflict inKosovothatare there- sponsibilityofindividualsandnotofthegroupsor forcestheymayhavebelongedtoorrepresent-ed.

Thecomingyearwillbeextremelyimportantforthe SPO, as our investigation moves forward.Since the SITF began its work in 2011 with two binders of material, we have acquired some 70,000 documents, comprising nearly700,000pages.Ourworkinrecentmonthshasbeen focused on evaluating this evidence tomakesurewearereadyforanyeventualjudicialproceedings, in accordance with the Rules ofProcedure and Evidence, and, together with theresultsofongoinginvestigations,toputtheSpecialistProsecutor inapositiontomake thedecisionwhethertoindictornot.Thedecisionastowhetherandwhomtocharge,andwhatfor, isintheSpecialistProsecutor’sdiscretion,which willbeexercisedwithextremecareandafteradeliberateandthoroughprocess.TheSpecialistProsecutorwillbeguidedbythelawandfacts,nothingmore.

TheProsecutorwillexaminepromptly,comprehensivelyand impartially theeventswithin themandateandpursuetheinvestigationtouncoverthetruthbehindthem.

Wearecommittedtoachievingalegitimateoutcomethatisacceptedbothinternationallyandinthecommunitiesaffectedbytheconflictandtohold accountable those individuals responsiblefor criminal acts within the mandate for their actions,withoutfearorfavour.

Kwai Hong IpActing Specialist ProsecutorApril 2018


The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) was establishedon1September2016inTheHagueasan internationalised, relocatedKosovo institution, inheriting the staff andmandateof theSpecial Investigative Task Force (SITF). In the interveningperiod, theSPOhascontinued the investigationstartedbytheSITFwithaviewtomakingappropriatedecisionsregardingchargesin relation to certain crimes committed duringand in the aftermath of the armed conflict in Kosovo.

The SPO draws its mandate from the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office adopted by the Kosovo AssemblyinAugust2015bywhichboththeSPOandtheSpecialistChamberswerecreated.ThislegislationgrantstheSPOauthoritytoinvestigate andprosecute crimes committed in relation toconduct identified in the Council of Europe’s January2011ReportInhuman treatment of peo-ple and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo. This is commonly referred to as the “Marty Report” after Dick Marty, the former Swiss prosecutor, senator andmember of the ParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope,whoheadedtheinvestigationthatpreparedit.

The SPO is investigating grave trans-boundaryand international crimes, that is, primarily,warcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanityasdefinedbycustomaryinternationallawandsetoutintheLawontheSpecialistChambersandtheSpecialist

Evolution of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office

Council of Europe Report

InthewakeofthepublicationofformerICTYChiefProsecutorCarlaDelPonte’smemoir,Madame Prosecutor,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEuropeappointedSwissSenatorDickMarty to investigate the allegations contained in it. SenatorMartyhadearlier ledaCouncilofEurope investigation intoal-legedunlawfulCIAprisonsinEurope,publishingtworeportsofhisfindingsinJune2006andJune2007.

SenatorMartycompiledareportintotheDelPonteallegations,entitledInhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo,whichwasendorsedbytheCouncilofEuropeinJanuary2011.Inthereport,whichiscommonlyreferredtoasthe“MartyReport”,MartydeterminedthattherewerecredibleindicationsofmanyoftheallegationsinDelPonte’sbook,includinginrelationtoorganharvesting.TheMartyReportalsonamedasresponsibleKosovoLiberationArmycommanders,manyofwhomhadsubsequentlyrisentoseniorpositionsinKosovo.

Senator Dick Marty (© Council of Europe)

Prosecutor’sOffice.The crimes that fallwithinthejurisdictionoftheSPOarethosecommittedorcommencedinKosovointhethree-yearperiod between 1 January 1998 and 31 December2000. The staff –which includes prosecutors, investigators, analysts, security professionals,witness-protectionspecialistsandsupportstaff– are all internationals. Since the transition totheSPO,the35-memberSITFstaffhassteadilyincreased to close to 60, including more than20nationalities.

TheSPOhastheauthority,inter alia,torequestthepresenceofandtoquestionsuspects,victimsandwitnesses,collectandexamineinformationandevidence,andtakedecisionsontheinitiation,andthecontinuationorterminationofcriminalproceedings.Itseekstoholdindividualsaccount-ableforthecrimescoveredbyitsmandate.

Assistance from authorities in Belgrade and Pristina,aswellasfromtheEuropeanUnionandthewider international community, is essentialto the investigation. The SPO has sought andcontinues to seek assistance from any personandanyinstitution,domesticorinternational,toadvancethe investigationandtoensurethat it is done objectively, professionally, impartially,thoroughly and well. Irrespective of attempts to revoke or amend the Law on the SpecialistChambersandSpecialistProsecutor’sOffice,theSPOremainsfocusedondischargingitsresponsibilities.

DavidSchwendiman,aformerUSFederalProsecutor and one-time Deputy Chief Prosecutorand Head of the Special Department forWar CrimesinBosniaandHerzegovina,wasappointedthe first Specialist Prosecutor on 1 September

2016,whentheSITFtransitionedintotheSPO.HehadbeenLeadProsecutoroftheSITFfromMay2015.

MrSchwendimantravelledtobothBelgradeandPristinainNovember2016.Inthecourseofthisvisit, he met with the then Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the then Prime Minister of Kosovo, IsaMustafa, among other officials.

TheSPOhasbeencarefullyevaluatingevidencegatheredsincetheSITFbeganitsworkin2011,including some 70,000 documents, comprisingnearly700,000pagesofmaterial,duringthepastyear.TheSpecialistProsecutorhasbeenworkingtowards a prosecution decision, but will onlybringchargeswhenheissatisfiedthat:theevidenceisadmissibleintheSpecialistCourt;thattheevidencewillbeavailabletopresentincourtwhen the time comes; the evidence will be sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubteachelementofeachcrimeas toeachpersoncharged;thatthecasewilllikelysurviveaproperly informed, intelligent and vigorous defence;andthatthecasewillresult inconvictionsthatwillwithstandappeal.


Council of Europe Report

In the wake of the publication of former ICTY Chief ProsecutorCarla Del Ponte’s memoir, Madame Prosecutor, the ParliamentaryAssembly of the Council of Europe appointed Swiss Senator DickMarty to investigate the allegations contained in it. SenatorMarty had earlier led a Council of Europe investigation into al-leged unlawful CIA prisons in Europe, publishing two reports ofhis findings in June 2006 and June 2007.

Senator Marty compiled a report into the Del Ponte allegations,entitled Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo, which was endorsed by the Council of Europe inJanuary 2011. In the report, which is commonly referred to as the“Marty Report”, Marty determined that there were credible indications of many of the allegations in Del Ponte’s book, includingin relation to organ harvesting. The Marty Report also named asresponsible Kosovo LiberationArmy commanders, many ofwhomhad subsequently risen to senior positions in Kosovo.

First Specialist Prosecutor

David Schwendiman became Specialist Prosecutor on 1September2016,whentheSpecialInvestigativeTaskForce (SITF) transitioned into the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office(SPO), having been Lead Prosecutor of the SITF from May2015.HistimeasSpecialistProsecutorcametoanendon31March2018whenhisappointmentasaUSSeniorForeignServiceOfficerexpired.

Mr Schwendiman is a formerUS Federal Prosecutor andone-timeDeputyChiefProsecutorandHeadoftheSpecialDepartment forWar Crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before joining theSITF,heworked inKabul,Afghanistan, asAssistantSpecialInspectorGeneral/DirectorofForwardPlanning for the US Special Inspector General for AfghanistanReconstructionand,beforethat,asUSDepartmentofJusticeAttachéattheUSEmbassy.

Between2006and2009,MrSchwendiman servedas an internationalprosecutorintheSpecialDepartmentforWarCrimesoftheProsecutor’sOfficeofBosniaandHerzegovina whereheinvestigatedandprosecutedwarcrimesandcrimes against humanity committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina duringthe1992-95BosnianWar.

Between November 2007 and the end of 2009, hewas DeputyChiefProsecutorandHeadoftheSpecialDepartmentforWarCrimes.

MrSchwendimanrepresentedtheUSAttorneyGeneral inconnectionwithsecurityplanning,preparationandexecution forthreeOlympicGames–Sydney2000,SaltLakeCity2002 andAthens2004.Healsocompletedmultipleassignmentsfor theUSDepartmentofJustice inBahrain,Bangladesh,ThailandandVietnam.

MrSchwendimanbeganhiscareerasaprosecutorat theUtahAttorneyGeneral’sOfficein1976.HereturnedtotheUtahAttorneyGeneral’sOfficein1984,afterservingsevenyearsasajudgeadvocateintheUSNavy,whereheattainedthe rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the US DepartmentofJusticeasanAssistantUSAttorney in theDistrictofUtahin1986,holdingvariouspositions,includingSeniorLitigationCounsel,FirstAssistantUSAttorneyandInterimUSAttorneyintheDistrictofUtah,beforeretiringfromtheUSDepartmentofJusticein2014.

Mr Schwendiman graduated from theUniversity of UtahCollegeofLaw,nowtheS.J.QuinneyCollegeofLaw,in1976,andhasbeenanAdjunctProfessorofLawtheresince1994.

David Schwendiman



TheSPOisanindependentinstitution.ItsindependenceisguaranteedbytheLawcreatingit,aswell as by the constitutional amendment thatmade the Law possible. Kosovo Law demandsthattheSPOactindependentlyfromtheKosovoSpecialist Chambers and all other prosecutors in Kosovo. The Law instructs the Specialist ProsecutorandSPOstaffnottoseekorreceiveinstructionsfromanygovernmentorothersource.

The ParliamentaryAssembly of the Council ofEuropeappointedSenatorMartyto investigatetheallegationscontainedinthememoirofformer International Criminal Tribunal for the formerYugoslavia (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Carla DelPonte,Madame Prosecutor,whichwaspublishedin April 2008.

MadamDelPontewasnotabletotakeherinvestigation at the ICTY further both because shelacked jurisdiction and the ICTY had alreadyadoptedacompletionstrategy.

Madam Del Ponte’s investigationwas, in part, inspiredbythereportingofMichaelMontgomery, aUSjournalistwhouncoveredevidenceofatroc-ities in the wake NATO’s 1999 air campaign. MrMontgomerypreparedamemorandumsettingoutdetailsofhisfindingsthathegavetotheUNInterimAdministrationMissioninKosovo,whichwastheadministrativeauthorityatthetime.

Prosecution decision

UnderRule86oftheRulesofProcedureandEvidence,whichwere promulgated by the Specialist Chambers in July 2017, the Specialist Prosecutor must be satisfied that “there iswell-groundedsuspicionthatasuspectcommittedorparticipated inthecommissionofacrimewithinthejurisdictionoftheSpecialistChambers”beforeanindictmentcanbefiled.

In addition and based on best professional practice, David SchwendimandrewupfurtherpolicyguidanceforSPOprosecutors,determiningthathewouldonlybringchargeswhenhewassatisfiedthatthefivefollowingconditionsweresatisfied:• thattheevidencethatsupportsthechargeisadmissibleintheSpecialistCourt;

• thattheevidencewillbeavailabletopresentincourtwhenthetimecomes;

• thattheevidencewillbesufficienttoprovebeyondreasonabledoubteachelementofeachcrimeastoeachpersoncharged;

• thatthecasewilllikelysurviveaproperlyinformed,intelligentandvigorousdefence;and

• thatthecasewillresultinconvictionsthatwillwithstandappeal.

David Schwendiman


InthewakeofpublicationoftheMartyReport,theEuropeanUnionformedtheSITFtoinvestigatetheallegationscontainedinit.TheSITFwasbasedinBrusselsandinitiallyheadedbyformerUSAmbassador-at-LargeforWarCrimesIssuesClintWilliamson. Mr Schwendiman succeededAmbassadorWilliamsonastheLeadProsecutoroftheSITFinMay2015.

A means for continuing the investigation andprosecuting any charges that derived from it was established by the Law on the SpecialistChambersandtheSpecialistProsecutor’sOfficethat was adopted by the Kosovo Assembly in August 2015. The legislation allows for the relocation of proceedings outside Kosovo and an international staff. An interim host-state

Madame Prosecutor

In hermemoir,Madame Prosecutor, whichwasoriginallypublished in ItalianasLa caccia: Io e i criminali di guerra (The Hunt: Me and War Criminals) in April 2008, Carla Del Ponte, theformer Chief Prosecutor of the InternationalCriminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, devotedchapter11toherinvestigationsinrelationtoKosovo.Inthischapter,MadamDelPontewrote ofseriousallegations, including inrelationto organ harvesting, that shebelieved requiredinvestigation.

Madam Del Ponte’s investigationwas, in part, inspiredbythereportingofMichaelMontgomery, aUSjournalistwhouncoveredevidenceofatroc-itiesinthewakeofNATO’s1999aircampaign. MrMontgomerypreparedamemorandumsetting out details of his findings that he gave to the UN InterimAdministrationMission in Kosovo. MrMontgomeryalsoaccompaniedMadamDelPontewhenshevisitedsitesofallegedcrimesinAlbaniain2004.

InthewakeofpublicationofMadamDelPonte’sbook,theParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncil

ofEuropeappointedSwissSenatorDickMartytoinvestigatetheallegations.TheresultsofSenatorMarty’s investigation were published in the ParliamentaryAssemblyoftheCouncilofEurope’sJanuary2011ReportInhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo,nowcommonlyreferredtoasthe“MartyReport”.

Madame Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte’s memoir


agreementwas signedwith theNetherlands inJanuary2016wherebytheSpecialistChambersandSPOwouldbelocatedinTheHague.

The SPO seeks to achieve outcomes that arelegitimate and are perceived as legitimate bythoseaffectedbythem,inKosovo,theregionandthe wider world. Only in this fashion can the stigma of the events dealt with in the Marty ReportberemovedasanimpedimenttoKosovo’s fullintegrationintotheinternationalcommunity.

Mr Schwendiman ceased being Specialist Prosecutor on 31 March 2018 when his appointment as a US Senior Foreign Service

Officer expired. He has been succeeded by DeputySpecialistProsecutorKwaiHongIponaninterimbasis.

In addition to serving as Deputy Specialist Prosecutor, Mr Ip was both Deputy Lead Prosecutor of the SITF and the Acting Lead Prosecutor of the SITF between AmbassadorWilliamson’s departure in July 2014 and MrSchwendiman’sarrivalinMay2015.

Montgomery memorandum

Michael Montgomery, a US journalist whoreportedfromtheBalkansforThe Daily Telegraph between 1988 and 1995, returned to Kosovo afterNATO’saircampaignandthewithdrawalofYugoslav forces. He went to investigate andco-producearadiodocumentary,entitledMassacre at Cuska, which documented the killings of AlbanianvillagersbySerbianforces.

Inthecourseofhisinvestigation,MrMontgomeryuncoveredallegationsofatrocitiesthathewroteup in a memorandum and gave to the United NationsInterimAdministrationMissioninKosovo (UNMIK),whichwastheadministrativeauthority

atthetime.In2004,MrMontgomeryaccompa-nied a teamof investigators fromUNMIK andtheInternationalCriminalTribunalfortheformerYugoslaviaastheylookedintotheallegations.

Michael Montgomery working in Kosovo (© Stephen Smith)


Ambassador Clint Williamson

In a valedictory talk as Specialist Prosecutor at the Grotius Centre of Leiden University in TheHague,MrSchwendimandiscussedtheori-ginsoftheSPO,thechallengeshehadfacedasSpecialistProsecutorandthechallengesthattheorganisationwillfaceintheyearstocome.

TheEuropeanUnionhas set in train aprocess to appoint a successor to Mr Schwendiman, who may be from any EU Member State or the five Contributing States: Canada, Norway, Switzerland,TurkeyandtheUnitedStates.

Special Investigative Task Force

FromSeptember2011when it began itsworkuntil it was absorbed into the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) in September 2016,the Specialist Investigative Task Force (SITF) managed the criminal investigation into whatwasreportedintheJanuary2011ParliamentaryAssembly of the Council of Europe Report, Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo.

TheSITFwasbased inBrussels, fundedbytheEuropeanUnionand,betweenSeptember2011andJuly2014,headedbyformerUSAmbassador-at-LargeforWarCrimesIssues,ClintWilliamson. KwaiHongIpwasActingLeadProsecutorofthe

SITF between August 2014 and April 2015. DavidSchwendimanbecameLeadProsecutorinMay2015andcontinuedtoheadtheSITFuntilittransitionedintotheSPO.


Schwendiman’s valedictory talk

Inavaledictory talkasSpecialistProsecutoratthe Grotius Centre of Leiden University in TheHague,DavidSchwendimandiscussed theorigins of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office(SPO),thechallengeshehadfacedasSpecialistProsecutorandthechallengesthattheorganisationwillfaceintheyearstocome.

Mr Schwendiman’s presentation, entitled “ReflectionsonMyTimeasSpecialistProsecutor andtheChallengesAhead”,washeldinapackedhallofLeidenUniversityinfrontofanaudienceincludinglegalpractitioners,journalists,diplomats and students.

Mr Schwendiman spoke of the complexity ofgatheringdocumentation,locatingwitnessesandfindingothermaterialthatmayhaveevidentiaryvalue, arguing that this required patience andperseveranceaswellasdiplomacy.

The Specialist Prosecutor also addressed the issueofaccountability,sayingthat:“Thebusiness of the prosecutor is accountability; individual accountability for crimes proven beyond a reasonabledoubtbyevidenceacquiredthrough

means accepted as fair and reliable not only accordingtointernationalstandardsbutalsointhedomesticsystemsinvolved.”

Andheemphasisedthat:“Accountabilitymustbefor individualactsnotgroup liability foranyoftheconductcoveredbytheSpecialLaw.”

The full text ofMr Schwendiman’s valedictorytalkcanbefoundontheSPOwebsite.

David Schwendiman at the Grotius Centre

https://www.scp-ks.org/sites/default/files/public/content/specialist_prosecutor_david_schwendiman_grotius_centre_speech_22_march_2018_0.pdf


Kosovo Specialist Chambers & Specialist Prosecutor’s Office – First Report, 2016-2018Published and distributed by: Kosovo Specialist ChambersPublished in three languages: Albanian, English, Serbian

For more information visit the KSC website: www.scp-ks.org For media queries regarding the Specialist Chambers: [email protected] For media queries regarding the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office: [email protected]

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