Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) President Ekaterina Trendafilova on 29 November addressed civil society and journalists at an outreach event in Pristina. During the event, she answered questions, listened to people’s concerns and explained the mandate and the work of the Court. Outreach has been an integral component of the KSC’s communication strategy since the Court began its work.
“What I appreciate most about my visit to Kosovo is meeting with university students and members of the civil society. I am glad to see that there continues to be a lot of interest in the work of the Court and am grateful that people took the time to be here today. It was important for me to speak with people directly and to have the opportunity to talk about the cases at the KSC and its mandate,” President Trendafilova said.
In response to questions about the length of proceedings, the President spoke about the efficiency of the proceedings, with the issuance of two final judgments in 2023, the expected closure of the evidentiary phase in a third trial early next year, and the start of pre-trial proceedings in one other case.
President Trendafilova has noted the protests taking place outside the outreach event today. She is, however, hopeful that by continuing to transparently and accurately inform the public about the KSC’s proceedings, the work done at the court will speak for itself.
When asked whether the Court will ensure that the accused are treated fairly, President Trendafilova explained how the KSC’s legal framework guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms provided under the Constitution and how the KSC adheres to the highest international human rights standards in the fulfilment of its mandate, including with respect to the rights of the accused and the rights of the participating victims.
