by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

WARSAW, Poland–

Former Polish President Lech Walesa has announced that he will be defending himself in court on new claims that he was a paid communist informant for the country’s secret service during the Soviet era. Former President Walesa was the country’s first president of the post-communist era, and was the leader of the Polish Solidarity movement during that time. The state-run National Remembrance Institute (NRI) announced earlier this week that documents confiscated from the house of the last communist interior minister, General Czeslaw Kiszczak, included a letter signed by Walesa indicating his intent to provide the secret service with information. The letter is believed to be authentic.

While the allegations themselves are not new, they have resurfaced after Kiszczak’s widow offered to sell the letters to the NRI for 90,000 zlotys (approximately $22,800). Prosecutors seized the documents before the sale was completed because the law requires “important historic papers” to be handed in to the authorities. The documents include 350 pages of secret police files that have never been opened to the public before. Contained in these pages are money receipts signed by “Bolek,” which was Walesa’s code name, according to the NRI president, Lukasz Kaminski.

The documents date from 1970 to 1976. Walesa co-founded the Solidarity movement in 1980, which contributed to the fall of the communist regime in 1989. Walesa was elected president in 1990 as a result of his efforts.

Although Walesa has previously stated he did not collaborate with the secret police, he confirmed in 2008 that he had signed a document that stated his intent to cooperate with the police. He maintains, however, that he did not follow through with this commitment. Walesa wrote on his blog from Venezuela earlier this week, commenting that the documents were forged to discredit him and tarnish his reputation. A special court convened in 2000 had already cleared him of all charges of working with the secret police.

For more information, please see–

BBC– Lech Walesa ‘was paid Communist informant’— 18 February 2016

The Guardian– Lech Wałęsa denies he was secret service informant during communist era— 18 February 2016

NPR– Polish Institute: Files Show Lech Walesa Worked With Communist-Era Secret Police— 18 February 2016

New York Times– Lech Walesa Faces New Accusations of Communist Collaboration— 18 February 2016

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

LONDON, England–

Hours after announcing that a deal had been reached between the United Kingdom and other European Union member nations, British Prime Minister David Cameron stated that he will campaign with all his “heart and soul” to keep his country within a reformed EU system. The agreement came after two days of intense talks in Brussels, culminating with a unanimous decision by EU leaders that would allow the UK to stay within the system under negotiated terms.

Prime Minister Cameron is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting on February 20th, where he will recommend that the government officially approve the terms, which will allow him to call a referendum on the matter. He stated, ““In an uncertain world is this really the time to add a huge new risk to our national and our economic security? I don’t believe that is right for Britain. I believe we are stronger, safer and better off inside a reformed EU and that is why I will be campaigning with all my heart and soul to persuade the British people to remain in the reformed EU that we have secured today.”

The negotiated agreement allows the UK to remain in the EU system with several major changes. An “emergency break” on EU migrants claiming in-work benefits will be in place for seven years, and individuals will only be covered for four years. Restrictions will also be placed on paying benefits to migrants from other EU countries, and Britain has no obligation to promote an “ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.” The UK also does not have to cooperate with the euro or contribute in eurozone bailouts. However, the UK will maintain full access to the EU’s free-trade market, and receive the advantages of European collaboration on crime and terrorism.

Despite the negotiations, many high profile politicians, including members of Cameron’s own cabinet, will continue to back the British exit, or “Brexit,” from the EU. Their worries primarily focus on backing a failing system of a European “super nation” and having to bear the burden of supporting struggling member nations. Britain has traditionally distanced itself from the rest of the European continent, and a Brexit would be seen as consistent with British foreign policy.

The referendum, if approved by the cabinet, could come as early as June. As of yet, it is unsure whether or not the agreement will be supported.

For more information, please see–

BBC–EU deal gives UK special status, says PM— 19 February 2016

CNN–Cameron: We have a deal with the EU— 19 February 2016 

The Guardian–Cameron will put ‘heart and soul’ into staying in EU after sealing deal— 19 February 2016

The Telegraph–EU summit – live: David Cameron hails deal ‘to give UK special status in the EU’ – including seven-year brake on migrant benefits – paving way for June referendum— 19 February 2016

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France–

France is in the process of extending its state of emergency that has been in place since the Paris attacks in November of last year. The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, said that the state of emergency must continue for a “necessary” period of time, despite protests from the UN experts and human rights groups. Prime Minster Valls also said that Europe could not handle the influx of refugees fleeing the “terrible” wars in Iraq and Syria, as it could destabilize the country.

Valls’ remarks have ignited international debate about how long an emergency state and extra police powers could exist. The French President, Francois Hollande, has stated that the extension of the police powers is probable, with a final decision likely next week.

The state of emergency was supposed to last for a short period of time, but was extended for three months and set to expire on 26 February, 2016. The government first extended the police powers immediately after the Paris attacks on 13 November 2015. The state of emergency allows police to conduct house raids and searches without a warrant during the day or night, gives police the ability to place people under house arrest without extrajudicial process, and allows for restrictions on large gatherings or protests.

Since the state of emergency has gone into effect, there have been around 3,100 raids and searches, and almost 400 people have been placed under house arrest. Most of the raids and arrests occurred immediately after the attacks, but have substantially slowed down since then. At least 500 weapons have been seized, but over 200 of them have been seized from one person.

The Human Rights League of France has taken a case contesting the state of emergency to the highest court of France. Their reasoning states that it is no longer defensible and “seriously impacts public freedoms.” The court will hear the case next week.

Likewise, the UN has condemned the extension of the police powers, as it “lack[s] clarity and precision of several provisions of the state of emergency and surveillance laws.” Their main problems involve issues with freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to privacy.

For more information, please see–

CNN–French Parliament considers expanded emergency powers— 19 November 2015

Euronews– France’s national assembly votes to extend state of emergency— 19 November 2015

BBC– Migrant crisis: EU at grave risk, warns France PM Valls— 22 January 2016

The Guardian– France considers extending national state of emergency— 22 January 2016

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

LONDON, England–

Ecuador’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, has announced that the Swedish government will be allowed to question Wikileaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange has been living in the embassy seeking refuge since 2012, awaiting extradition to Sweden on rape allegations.

Assange’s extradition to Sweden was allowed in 2012 after a long legal battle he ultimately lost in supreme court. After his bail was set for extradition, Assange fled to the Ecuadorian embassy out of fear that his extradition back to Sweden would be a pretext for his extradition to America. Both Assange and his supporters believe he could be charged under the U.S. Patriot Act for posting classified documents on the Wikileaks site.

Under Swedish law, Assange cannot be formally charged without an interview taking place. In December 2014, the Swedish Prosecution Authority announced it was making a new request to interview Assange in London. The British government granted the request last June. “When all necessary permits and arrangements are ready, the interview will be performed by the supporting prosecutor to the case, chief prosecutor Ingrid Isgren, together with a police investigator,” the Swedish authority commented.

The Ecuadorian authorities have responded that they are willing to accept Sweden’s petition to question Assange, “as long as the sovereignty of the Ecuadoran state and the laws in the constitution are respected.” Patino requested that the Swedish prosecutors provide their Ecuadorian colleagues with the questions they will be asking Assange, as well as allowing them to place one of their own prosecutors in the room during the interview.

Kristinn Hrafnsson, a spokesperson for Wikileaks, stated that Assange has embraced the “opportunity to deliver his statement to the prosecutor. Julian has been offering his statement to the prosecutor by various means for five years [in total] and for three-and-a-half years since he went into the embassy – whether via videolink or by the prosecutor coming to London. Let’s hope [the interview] can be carried out as soon as possible. Julian is very eager to get his point of view into the investigation.”

For more information, please see–

The Guardian– Julian Assange to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London— 15 January 2016

Latino One– Ecuador Announces Cooperation with Swedish Prosecutors in Julian Assange Case— 15 January 2016

Telesur– Ecuador Gives Sweden Green Light for Assange Interrogation— 15 January 2016

South China Morning Post– WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange free to live in Ecuador if cleared of Swedish charges— 16 January 2016

by Shelby Vcelka

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands–

The Dutch government announced on Friday morning that a special court is being set up at The Hague to try war crimes committed during the 1999-2000 war in Kosovo. The conflict set in opposition the Serbian forces against Albanian rebels, with members of the guerrilla Kosovo Liberation Front (KLF) committing alleged atrocities against political opponents and ethnic minorities. The European Union has mandated the trials to facilitate the country’s integration within the EU system.

 

Although the trials will be conducted in the Netherlands at The Hague, the court will actually be a national court of Kosovo, with international judges applying Kosovo’s criminal laws. It will retain its nature as a court that administers justice outside Kosovo, rather than becoming an international tribunal.

The court was moved outside the jurisdiction of Kosovo due to the sensitive nature of trying war crimes within Kosovo. Many of those who oppose the creation of the court see it as an “insult” to those who fought against Serbian national forces.

“Possible suspects may be seen by sections of Kosovan society as freedom fighters, and witnesses may feel threatened in Kosovo,” hence the reason for cases to be heard abroad. So we are pleased to be able to offer the court a home. It is important for justice to be done,” Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said.

An EU task force that investigated the alleged war crimes said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute many senior members of the KLA on charges for unlawful killings, abductions, illegal detention camps, sexual violence, and desecration of religious buildings.

The governments of both Kosovo and the Netherlands have agreed to the arrangements for the court, but the parliaments of each country have yet to approve the measures. The costs for the court will be paid through EU funding.

Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution will join other war crimes courts in The Hague, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The court is expected to begin operating later this year.

For more information, please see–

Balkan Insight– The Hague to Host New Kosovo War Court— 15 January 2016

BBC– Kosovo war crimes court to try KLA suspects in The Hague— 15 January 2016

Expatica– New court to open in The Hague to try Kosovo war crimes— 15 January 2016

Wall Street Journal– Netherlands to Host Kosovo War Crimes Court— 15 January 2016