The workshop, which is part of the “Justice 2020” agenda, according to Minister Tahiri, enables the law enforcement agencies to understand the legal norms they now have in their disposal to fight organized crime and corruption.

Minister Tahiri pointed out that the confiscation of assets acquired by criminal offense has been one of the weakest points of the institutions, criticized in three Country Reports of the European Commission, therefore we worked together with the EU to improve the legislation and the mechanisms necessary to address this issue.

“The Republic of Kosovo has managed to have a legal basis that gives our investigators and prosecutors additional opportunities and instruments that shall bring our country in a better rank among the states that have succeeded in confiscating assets acquired by criminal offense. Undoubtedly, above all, as citizens of this country, we expect for 2019 to be a year that will yield much better results than the previous years” said Minister Tahiri. 

Minister Tahiri emphasized that in the framework of the “Justice 2020” agenda, the implementation of this law will be overseen, as the increase in the number of judges, prosecutors, professional associates, and investigators makes the fight against crime and corruption more effective.

“I think the best way to weaken the power of criminal groups, whether in politics or in business, or wherever they are, is by managing to confiscate their assets. I am convinced that these groups will weaken and the state will triumph over them” said Minister Tahiri.

The new Law on Extended Powers has added the number of criminal offenses for which confiscation is foreseen; confiscation has not only extended to the defendants but also to third parties when they are not bona fide buyers of the asset; and a proportional system in proving the burden of proof has been foreseen. According to the new law, the prosecutor has to prove that the assets listed for verification are the assets of the defendant, whereas the defendant has to prove that he/she has acquired the assets by legitimate sources, and provide evidence thereof. On the contrary, it shall be confiscated by the Court.