Kosnett: Parties’ lists feature individuals with active indictments and war crimes, assaults and corruption convictions

Despite Kosovo’s commitment to the rule of law, many parties’ lists for the upcoming extraordinary parliamentary elections feature individuals with active indictments, convictions for offenses such as war crimes, corruption, and assault – the US Ambassador to Pristina, Philip Kosnett wrote on Twitter.

The US ambassador to Pristina warned that electoral lists of political parties set to participate in Kosovo’s extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for October 6 include individuals whose candidacy contends with political parties’ „stated commitment“ to the rule of law in Kosovo.

“How can citizens take seriously political parties’ stated commitment to Kosovo rule of law when many parties’ lists feature individuals with active indictments, convictions for offenses such as war crimes and assault, and international sanctions for war crimes and corruption?” Kosnett tweeted.

How can citizens take seriously political parties’ stated commitment to #KosovoRuleOfLaw when many parties’ lists feature individuals with active indictments, convictions for offenses such as war crimes & assault, and international sanctions for war crimes & corruption? pic.twitter.com/JR3mChLylq

— Ambassador Philip S. Kosnett (@USAmbKosovo) September 13, 2019

War criminals working as advisers to the Prime Minister and President of Kosovo

It seems that convictions for war crimes do not pose an obstacle to finding employment in the highest Kosovo institutions. In early February, the Kosovo President and Prime Minister hired convicted war criminals as advisers. While the then-appointed adviser to Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Sylejman Selimi, was still serving his sentence even though he was on parole, the presidential adviser, Rustem Mustafa Remi, served his sentence in full.
After months of reports on Selimi’s employment and frequent criticism of the US ambassador over the appointment of convicted war criminals, Selimi was dismissed in June “at his request.”

On the other hand, the employment of another war criminal, Rustem Mustafa, in the office of the Kosovo president has managed to stay out of the public eye for some time. The news only became public following a report by the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency on reported property and income of Kosovo public officials.