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 Biti i, 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 U K [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 U K.

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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