Arsic: Kosovo judiciary is entrenched in the belief that Serbs are guilty

Attorney Predrag Arsic, who represents a number of Serbs charged before Kosovo courts, said, commenting on the latest OSCE report, that war crimes indictments in Kosovo have taken on a distinct character and closely resemble one another, adding that the problems surrounding war crimes proceedings are neither minor nor easily resolved, RTS reports.

Arsic said the OSCE report points to certain improvements but stressed that, in addition to the shortcomings of the criminal proceedings themselves—including incomplete indictments, false witnesses and fabricated evidence that later forms the basis of convictions—it cannot be said that any meaningful progress has been made in these cases.

He added that if there were an international body overseeing the work of the judiciary in Pristina, every one of these indictments would be subject to serious scrutiny.

“War crimes indictments in Kosovo and Metohija have a very specific character and are remarkably similar to one another,” Arsic said.

He added that his objections largely coincide with those outlined by the OSCE in its report, arguing that there is a continuing pattern within the Pristina judiciary of relying on template-style indictments.

Arsic, who was himself arrested at Gazimestan, said his own experience demonstrated how the judiciary actually functions—or fails to function. He noted that those detained at Gazimestan on June 28 were denied their basic rights, including access to water, the ability to contact their families, request medical assistance or consult legal counsel. He said these are fundamental rights of every detainee, but that, apart from being subjected to ill-treatment by police officers, they were afforded none of them.

“The Albanian judiciary is entrenched in the prevailing view within Albanian society and the community that Serbs are guilty. At times, this is accompanied by campaigns aimed at scoring political points by arresting a Serb and charging that person with a war crime,” Arsic said.