Skopje, 26 August 2024 (MIA) – A special commission set up to look into the escape from house arrest in Skopje by the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) fighter, Blerim Ramadani, is working intensively and is expected to file a report soon, Judicial Council President Vesna Dameva said Monday.

As soon as facts are established, the report will be discussed at a session, Dameva told reporters.

“As Judicial Council head, I only provide all the technical conditions for gathering data needed for the probe. Let not prejudice around any accountability of the judges, there are legal deadlines. Intense efforts are made regarding this case, because the public deserves answers as soon as possible,” she said.

Asked whether she had tried to dissuade Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in their meeting from dissolving the Council, Dameva said she wouldn’t interfere since the judicial power was independent. 

“The Judicial Council has no jurisdiction, and I won’t interfere. In the meeting, I stressed that the judicial power is independent. As a Council, we presented the current situation in the judiciary, the activities of the Judicial Council aimed at implementing the recommendations. Restoring public trust in the judiciary depends on the implementation of the recommendations,” said Dameva. 

At an urgent session ten days ago, the Judicial Council decided to set up a commission tasked with looking into the decisions of the Criminal Court in Skopje regarding the escape of Blerim Ramadani from house arrest while he was waiting to be extradited. 

Acting on an Interpol arrest warrant, requested by Serbia, Blerim Ramadani was arrested on July 17, 2024 at the border with Kosovo before being transported to an extradition detention in a Skopje jail. The arrest warrant is based on Serbia’s suspicion that Ramadani as ex-KLA member had committed war crimes in the region of Nerodime.

On August 1, a court ordered Ramadani to serve house arrest instead of detention at a Skopje address until August 16. He is believed to have escaped from house arrest on August 15. 

Photo: printscreen