The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has approved today the Draft Law on the State Bureau for Verification and Confiscation of Unjustified Assets, as proposed by the Ministry of Justice, as one of the main reform initiatives in the framework of strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

In his speech, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti said the Law on the State Bureau for Verification and Confiscation of Unjustified Assets constituted one of the most important commitments of the Government in the field of justice.

“But unfortunately, the former government officials responded with unimaginable opposition to our great commitment to implementing the Bureau. Despite challenges, we did not stop and we will not stop. We will implement the Bureau in spite of others hiding their true motives behind the complaints to the Constitutional Court”, said Prime Minister Kurti.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Donika Gërvalla, emphasized the importance of this law in increasing accountability and citizen trust in institutions.

“This law sends a clear message: A public mandate is no personal enrichment opportunity. Rather, it is a responsibility that must be carried out based on legal provisions and obligations. On the other hand, this initiative and the law means more equality for citizens, more justice, as well as more state institutions’ trust”, declared she.

Minister Gërvalla said that this draft law was the result of a several-year reform process beginning in 2021 and was developed in close cooperation with local and international experts, reflecting the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the findings of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.

“This moment also marks the beginning of an almost 5-year marathon journey towards the implementation of this reform initiative, which, based on preliminary analyses and research, arises from the need to increase instruments and complete the legal infrastructure in the field of anti-corruption and anti-organized crime”, said Minister Gërvalla.

The draft law on the State Bureau, according to Minister Gërvalla, aims to strengthen the accountability of public officials, making it clear that wealth must be in line with legal income and preserve constitutional standards and fundamental rights, ensuring that any property-related action should only be made by judicial decision and on the basis of evidence.

Finally, Minister Gërvalla said the approval of this draft law was considered an important step towards completing the legal infrastructure in the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as towards increasing citizens’ trust for the state institutions.