The Hague, 11 June 2026 – The Ombudsperson of the Republic of Kosovo, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in The Hague, organized the presentation of the independent preliminary report on the functioning of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office

The report was presented by experts engaged by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC), an organization with a high international reputation in the field of human rights, which was mandated by the Ombudsperson Institution to conduct an independent assessment from a human rights perspective. The conference was attended by a large number of representatives of embassies of various European countries, as well as other participants interested in issues related to the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

In his opening remarks, the Ombudsperson welcomed the attendees and emphasized that the organization of this conference was guided by two fundamental considerations.

First, he noted that the functioning of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office raises important human rights issues that go beyond the national interest and affect the wider European human rights community, being closely linked to the protection of democratic values, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights.

Secondly, the Ombudsperson stressed that the purpose of commissioning the report was to provide an independent and additional analysis of the functioning of these institutions from a human rights perspective. He underlined that this issue is of importance not only for Kosovo, but also for the institutions of the European Union, given the central role that human rights, democracy and the rule of law occupy in the system of European values.

The Ombudsperson recalled that the independent preliminary assessment was entrusted to the BHRC due to its internationally recognized expertise in the field of human rights and expressed satisfaction that the report was presented directly by its authors. He expressed his belief that the findings and recommendations of the report will be useful for the relevant institutions and will contribute to strengthening public trust, accountability and the protection of human rights within the institutions supported and financed by the European Union.

On this occasion, the Ombudsperson emphasized that the report exclusively represents the analysis, findings and recommendations of its authors. He underlined that the Ombudsperson Institution has not exercised any influence on the content of the report, guaranteeing the full professional and intellectual independence of the evaluation process.

Speaking about the importance of the report, the Ombudsperson assessed that its findings deserve serious attention from all relevant parties, emphasizing that independent review and critical analysis are essential elements of democratic societies. He emphasized that criticism based on facts and international standards aims at improving and strengthening institutions, while efforts to delegitimize independent oversight or to limit critical voices may weaken mechanisms for accountability and the protection of human rights.

In conclusion, the Ombudsperson emphasized that the independence of justice and democratic control are not contradictory concepts, but principles that complement each other. According to him, only a justice system that is simultaneously independent, transparent and open to independent assessment can guarantee public trust and respect for the highest standards of the rule of law.

During the conference, BHRC experts Dr. Gus Waschefort and Ms. Lauren Lederie presented the main findings of the preliminary report, namely they presented the findings regarding the institutional structure of the DSK, the findings regarding provisional release, the findings regarding the right to a competent independent and impartial court established by law, the findings regarding the issue of admissibility of evidence and the findings regarding the principle of legality. All these issues are accessible to the public at the link -> https://l1nq.com/sajp7y0

After the presentation, a broad and constructive discussion took place between the diplomatic representatives and the experts who drafted the report. The debate focused on the issues raised in the report, the challenges identified and the importance of respecting international human rights standards in the functioning of justice institutions.

The Ombudsperson Institution remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights, strengthening the rule of law and supporting independent evaluation processes, as necessary mechanisms for advancing transparency, accountability and public trust in justice institutions.