BIRN has monitored 1248 trials in 18 courts in the past year. The findings of the systematic monitoring of the courts have been published in the yearly report, and they will be the main issues that will be discussed on the programme.
What are the main findings of the BIRN monitors who have systematically monitored 1248 trials in 18 courts of the country? How difficult does the absence of key legal staff in trials make coming to a judgment? What are the kinds of sentences that are issued by the courts of Kosovo?
What are the consequences in delaying the start of the trials? How do the defence lawyers of the parties respect the official judgment? How will the system of calling parties for trial be regulated? How does the absence of a translator in the court room make the judgment difficult?
To discuss these findings and the recommendations of the BIRN report on Kosovo’s judicial system, the discussion panel is made of representatives of the judicial, prosecution, ministry of justice and Kosovo Judicial Council.
They are:
Haki Demolli, Minister of Justice
Behar Selimi, Acting Chief Police Officer of Kosovo
Bahri Hyseni, Head of the Assembly Commission for Legislation and Judiciary
Enver Peci, Head of the Kosovo Judicial Council
Valdete Daka, member of the Kosovo Judicial Council and judge in the Supreme Court of Kosovo
Ismet Kabashi, Chief Prosecutor
After the debate, BIRN transmits the reportage of the journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu on the expropriation of land because of the privatisation of the airport of Prishtina.
Journalist Edona Musa talks about the illegal telephone operators that continue to function in the municipality of Gracanica.
Lastly, journalist Petrit Collaku reveals the challenges of maintaining cultural heritage against the competing interests of home owners and the negligence of institutions charged with protection.
Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20.