Prishtina, 15 November 2021 – The Ombudsperson, Mr. Naim Qelaj paid an official visit last week to the Detention Facilities of the Specialist Chambers and Kosovo Specialised Chambers in The Hague.

During the three-day visit there, the Ombudsperson met separately with the detainees against whom the trial is being conducted at the Kosovo Specialized Chambers and had the opportunity to discuss all issues with them. The Ombudsperson met all detainess except Mr. Salih Mustafa, who is currently barred from visits and meetings while being allowed contact only with a short list of persons, based on the decision by a Court Panel of the Kosovo Specialized Chambers.

Mr. Qelaj also met with the President of the Specialized Chambers, Mrs. Ekaterina Trandafilova and her associates and he was informed about the process of the trial, as well as about the rights of detainees in court proceedings, which are guaranteed by international standards for the fundamental rights of prisoners, the Constitution and other laws of the Republic of Kosovo.

The visit lasted from 9 to 11 November 2021, and the purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the situation regarding the fair trial, respect for fundamental rights in detention which are guaranteed by international standards for the rights of prisoners, the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kosovo.