[Kcc-News] Albin Kurti sentenced to 15 years imprisonment (http://www.FreeAlbinKurti.com)

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Taken from Koha Ditore, March 15, 2000

Albin Kurti sentenced to 15 years imprisonment

NISH, March 13 - The District Court of Nish today sentenced Albanian
student leader Albin Kurti to 15 years imprisonment, on charges of criminal
acts against the territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia and
involvement in subversive terrorist activity.

The acting defense lawyer, Branislav Circic, declared that he would appeal
the decision, while Kurti did not react to the ruling.

Circic, responding to Kurti's statement that he does not recognize the
court nor his lawyer, said that everyone is entitled to defend themselves
the way that they deem appropriate.

Present in the courtroom today were representatives of the United States
office in Belgrade, Human Rights Watch, and representatives of the
nongovernmental organizations Women in Black and Group 484, but they
declined to comment on the court's ruling.

Hisni Bitiçi, a lawyer from the Humanitarian Rights Fund, said that Kurti's
sentencing is the only case where an offense -- namely, the organization of
a rally without permission -- has been punished by a 15 year sentence.

The prosecutor in the case against the Albanian student leader Albin Kurti
requested from the lower court that Kurti be sentenced for acts against the
Serbian state, while Kurti's lawyer demanded that Kurti be released.

The deputy prosecutor in the case changed the charge against Kurti, whereby
the part that stated that Kurti has allegedly committed these acts during
wartime, was omitted.

"Even though the accused has a negative opinion of Serbia, does not
recognize its organs and its court, I think that he has committed milder
criminal acts -- he has illegally made efforts to secede a part of
Serbia," said the deputy prosecutor of the district court. He added that
the accused has displayed "a constant hate against the Serbian nation."

"It is not a surprise that he does not like -- even hates -- the regime, in
this case the Serbian one, but it is incomprehensible that he hates the
entire nation," said the deputy prosecutor.

He stated that Kurti made a series of attempts in late 1997 to organize
demonstrations with the purpose of "separating Kosova from the former
Yugoslavia, while in August 1998 he became a member of the UÇK [Kosova
Liberation Army] and as a secretary and political representative of this
military organization he carried out specific duties."

The deputy prosecutor said that Kurti has organized courses for first aid
and voluntary blood donation, and has conducted press conferences where he
spoke about the goals and principles of the UÇK.

Kurti's acting defense lawyer, Branislav Circic, proposed to the court that
the accused be released and that all charges be dropped, and end his
detainment since it has not been proven that Kurti committed any crime, nor
is there any indication that he has.

"The person beside me is not my representative. The judge, the prosecutor,
the lawyer are all the same to me, I do not recognize them," said Kurti,
adding that he has nothing else to add to his initial statement, made on
March 9.

At the first day of the trial, on March 9, Kurti stated in the court that
he does not feel guilty and that there is no one there for him to present
any defense. In the courtroom Kurti spoke in Albanian and several times
corrected the court interpreter by explaining to him what he meant in
fluent Serbian.

"I do not recognize this court, I can be tried only by a court of my
people. I do not recognize this court just as I do not recognize Serbia nor
Yugoslavia. This court is in the service of the fascist regime of Slobodan
Milosevic," said Kurti, and explained that he does not want a lawyer
because, "I represent myself."


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