Harvard Kennedy School logo

Harvard Kennedy School

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers: A Wrong Turn for Transitional Justice?

Human Rights & Global DevelopmentGovernance & DemocracyForeign Policy & Diplomacy

About this Event

Last month, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi of war crimes committed during the country’s war for independence from Serbia. For some, the verdict is a long awaited reckoning. For many in Kosovo, it landed as something closer to an injury: tens of thousands had gathered in Prishtina expecting an acquittal. The court itself is a controversial experiment. It applies Kosovo law and sits within Kosovo’s judicial system, yet its staff is international and its proceedings take place in The Hague, with funding from the European Union rather than Kosovo’s own budget. Critics argue it focuses disproportionately on Albanian defendants and recasts a liberation struggle, while supporters see it as essential to accountability and the rule…

This preview is intentionally limited. Unlock full access to view complete context, speakers, and supporting event materials.

Subscribe to keep reading

Get full access to event details, speakers, agendas, and event calendar.

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers: A Wrong Turn for Transitional Justice? | Linktank Events