The Committee on Legislation has decided that a public consultation will be held on the Draft Law on the State Bureau for verification and confiscation of unjustifiable assets, although the date for the consultation has not yet been set. Meanwhile, also today regarding this draft law, the committee formed a working group, KosovaPress reports.

The chair of this committee, Përparim Gruda, said that public consultation is decided by the Assembly of Kosovo, but that support can also be provided by civil society.

However, LVV MP Adnan Rrustemi said that the Draft Law on the State Bureau for verification and confiscation of unjustifiable assets is a draft law that has already undergone extensive discussion.

For him, it is somewhat problematic whom they will invite, as those affected by this law, he said, have abused their duties and become millionaires.

Gruda responded with irony, saying that for the public consultation on the State Bureau for verification and confiscation of unjustifiable assets, he thought of inviting prisoners from Dubrava Prison.

LVV MP Rrustemi replied by saying that those who are the subject of this draft law are not yet in Dubrava.

“The problem is not there; those who are potential subjects of the treatment of assets under this draft law are not yet in Dubrava,” he said.

AAK MP Besnik Tahiri, meanwhile, considers that public consultation strengthens the Draft Law on the State Bureau.

“The reason why we are requesting a public hearing is not related to the desire to simply sit and hold a public hearing, but the reason has a deeper source. This law has been struck down twice by the Constitutional Court and has been challenged the most by the Venice Commission. This law in its entirety has been rejected by the Constitutional Court, absolutely. This law, being very vital and important, must enter into function because every public official and person who cannot justify their assets must have them confiscated, and there is no more important fight for the new state of Kosovo than the fight against corruption—this is my conviction. However, for this law to pass, we must do a task that the government has not done, which is mandatory under Article 49 of the Rules of Procedure, which is to hold a public discussion,” he said.

At today’s meeting of the Committee on Legislation, a working group was also formed for the Draft Law on the State Bureau for verification and confiscation of unjustifiable assets, which will be chaired by LVV MP Vigan Qorrolli. Members of the working group include: Erxhan Galushi from the Progressive Movement of Roma, Adnan Rrustemi from LVV, Përparim Gruda from PDK, and Besnik Tahiri from AAK.