Isni Kilaj's lawyer, Edwards: The Ministry of Justice turned its back on veterans in The Hague

Isni Kilaj's lawyer, Iain Edwards, stated in an interview for Dukagjini Radio and Television that the Ministry of Justice in Kosovo has turned its back on the former leaders and former members of the KLA, who have been in custody for some time. The Hague. 

In these months, Edwards is not at all satisfied with the support he has received from the Ministry of Justice in Kosovo.

"That support is now gone. The Ministry of Justice now clearly does not care about these veterans who are in detention in The Hague. The Ministry of Justice is not ready to support them,” said Iain Edwards – Isni Kilaj's lawyer.

Edwards' grievances are related to the new administrative instruction of the Ministry of Justice, which has drastically reduced the payments for lawyers engaged in the Special.

For Kilaj's case, lawyer Edwards was offered only one thousand euro payment.

"It wouldn't be a problem for me to work for a thousand euros a month. But the problem is that I need to build a team, I need to create a system, I need to engage investigators, I need to engage other lawyers with whom I need to cooperate. So a thousand euros a month is shocking, it's shameful. I would call on the Ministry of Justice to reverse this unfair decision and reinstate the old scheme,” added Iain Edwards.

Read too KMDLNj: The main leaders of the KLA, violated by the Special - unprotected by the state

The television has asked the Ministry of Justice why such fees have been set, considering the fact that the Kosovo Assembly itself has decided that this court will be located abroad, thus creating additional expenses for the accused, but it has not received an answer. concrete.

"The case of Mr. Isni Kilajt is still in the preliminary stage, the Specialized Prosecutor has not yet filed an indictment in this case. Based on the above, the Commission has decided to propose to the defense the sum of 1,000.00 euros for the stage of the preliminary procedure. The fees for defense expenses, in the Administrative Instruction, are determined in consultation with experts and are in the interest of the Republic of Kosovo"

In response, the ministry clarified that the amount of payments is determined by several circumstances, such as the nature of the charges, the alleged position of the suspect or the accused in the political or military hierarchy, as well as the number of witnesses.

Read too Spokesman of the Special: The case of Shala is carried out this year, that of the former leaders of the KLA is difficult to predict

"For similar criminal offences, we have seen that Gucati and Haradinaj have been sentenced to more than four years in prison. Indictments against the administration of justice are not the most serious cases of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, but still difficult, complex and serious cases. I cannot accept this reasoning of the government. The government is turning its back on these veterans," said Isni Kilaj's lawyer.

The maximum amount that the ministry has decided to pay for the protection of an accused by the Special, is 120 thousand euros per month.