Serbian government provides financial assistance to war crimes suspects, Kuçi: Serbia is violating the fundamental principles of the international legal order

Gurakuç Kuçi from the Octopus Institute has spoken about the Serbian Government's decision to assist Serbs arrested for war crimes in Kosovo, saying that such a decision resembles Russia's policies after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

He wrote in a Facebook post that the Serbian Government has approved the decision to allocate financial assistance of 2.559 euros (300 thousand dinars) to persons (amount per individual) arrested in Kosovo on suspicion of committing war crimes during the years 1998–1999.

"This act, unprecedented in the contemporary practice of international relations, represents a blatant example of state support for individuals suspected of serious international crimes. In political and legal terms, this policy is comparable to the practices of the Russian Federation after the annexation of Crimea, where Russia has financed the protection and provided assistance to individuals accused of crimes on the territory of Ukraine, describing them as 'politically persecuted'," the reaction states.

By refusing to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of war crimes and terrorist attacks against Kosovo, Kuçi says that Serbia is not only undermining its international obligations, but is actively promoting a culture of impunity.

"Financial support for individuals accused of war crimes is not only an act of non-cooperation with international justice, but constitutes a direct challenge to the fundamental principles of the international legal order."

"With its decision, Serbia has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948), which imposes the obligation to prevent and punish perpetrators of the most serious crimes against humanity; the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), which aims to eliminate impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and UN Security Council Resolution 1244," he writes.

According to him, moreover, by claiming to support international law in diplomatic rhetoric, while in practice sabotaging justice processes and protecting individuals suspected of serious crimes, Serbia demonstrates an ideological and political continuity with the legacy of Slobodan Milosevic's regime.

Kuçi says that Serbia poses a serious threat to peace, security and justice in the Western Balkans region, fueling new interethnic tensions and undermining international efforts for reconciliation and building the rule of law in Kosovo.

“…Serbia positions itself as a factor of instability and not as a contributor to international peace and stability, making clear the discrepancy between its diplomatic discourse and concrete practices on the ground,” Kuçi writes.