TIRANA, September 19 – Despite all the arguments given by the defense lawyers for violation of the Constitution if the extradition of the former fighter of the Liberation Army of Kosovo (UÇK), Dritan Goxhaj, was accepted, the Court of Tirana approved on Tuesday the request of the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo and paved the way for his transfer to the Hague Tribunal to face the charge of witness intimidation.
The lawyers opposed the extradition, citing arguments related to legal violations in the procedure initiated by the Special Prosecutor’s Office.
For the defense lawyer, the main argument that would have to overturn the extradition request is the fact that the Special Court was created by a result of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council, which is entirely political and based on false facts.
They further refer to the lack of an extradition request from the Ministry of Justice of Kosovo, as well as the fact that Goxhaj will have to be taken to the Netherlands, a country with which Albania does not have an extradition agreement, and not to Kosovo.
Lawyer Bashkim Nikolla considered the decision completely unfair. “This is a shame for Albanian justice, said many people we have contacted. Dritan has fought for national issues. It is part of the UÇK army and the UÇK does not have committed any criminal act as alleged.”
The ruling was taken while outside the Court building many citizens protested against sending Goxhaj to The Hague. Protests in support of the former UÇK fighter have been held since his arrest in Tirana in July of this year. /argumentum.al
