Rebuttal to the Tribuna article “Salustro’s immunity threatened” of 14 February 2012

Number              02-2013
Date                   14.02.2013
Contact              John J. Ryan

The Human Rights Review Panel  (the Panel) has noted with utter surprise an article published by the Tribuna newspaper on 14 February 2013, making reference to the case of Agim Zogaj, known as “Witness X”.

The Panel confirms that the case  is pending before it and will be examined as any other case brought to its attention. 

However, the Panel emphasises that it has no mandate to lift the immunity of EULEX officials. Contrary to what is stated in the article, the Panel also does not award any monetary compensation to complainants.

The Panel stresses that all suppositions about the substance and outcome of the case are the sole responsibility of the author of the text and the editor. It is a matter of regret that no proper research has been made in connection with the article and that the public has been given  sensationalist and misleading information.

Please see www.hrrp.eu for further information on the Panel and its case-law.

 Notes to the editor;
The Human Rights Review Panel (Panel) for EULEX Kosovo, as an independent accountability mechanism for alleged violations of human rights,  reviews complaints from any person claiming to be the victim of human rights violations by EULEX Kosovo in the conduct of its executive mandate. The Panel is not a judicial or disciplinary body. The mechanism will solely look into whether a violation of human rights occurred or not and formulate recommendations for remedial action. Such action does no include monetary compensation.  The Psnel is independent in the exercise of its functions which it performs with impartiality and integrity.