Continued trial of Uke Rugova, Astrit Haraqi and others for Italian visas is expected tomorrow

Former Kosovo Assembly President Uke Rugova, former Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Astrit Haraqija, as well as others, are still expected to sit at the dock of indictees at the Constitutional Court in Pristina.

The trial against them is envisioned to continue tomorrow, November 22nd, in which Rugova, Haraqi and others, are charged with various criminal acts related to organised crime, in the case of Italian visas.

On October 12 of this year, the Court of Appeals had rejected the defense request for the prosecution of the indictment in this case.

The Court of Appeals had announced that it has rejected Rugova's defence complaint and other indictees, who had been put forward against the ruling of the Court of Court's Court in Pristina.

Seventeen defendants had filed complaints against Pristina Constitutional Court Court Act PKR 3/05/2016 of March 27, 2017, through which the defence requirements were rejected to reject the indictment, as well as their objections to the evidence. The Court of Appeals, through the PN verdict 475/2017 of September 25, 2017, has rejected these 17 complaints. The chairman of the panel's act was confirmed”, said in Appeal's announcement.

Otherwise, this case is being tried on the part of EULEX judges Vladimir Micila and Prosecutor Allen Cansick.

The Special Prosecutor's Act of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK) charges Uke Rugova that during the period May 2011 through February 2014, she managed a criminal group by supplying individuals with EU Schengen visas to Pristina. All these visas are supposed to have been taken illegally through distortion or corruption.

The other indictment device also charges Rugova with criminal possession of unauthorized weapons where a pistol and two mags were found at his residence.

Prosecutor Allen Cansick's Act highlights that the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo has accepted from the Italian Prosecutor in Rome a copy of their visa-related file including former Italian Ambassador to Kosovo Michael Giffoni.

Along with Uke Rugova in this case are Izet Beqiri, Florjan Petani, Qefser Baholli, Astrit Haraqija, Fitim Beqiri, Azad Beqiriaj, Liridona Beqiri, Cameron Avdyli, Ragip Gashi, Visar Beqiri, Azem Koskovku, Edisonaj, Beg Shaqiri, Kaqiri, Driton Voca, Valon Selimi, Fadil Ahmeti and Haxhi Islami.

The prosecution claims that this criminal group aimed at providing material benefits in order for citizens to be equipped with multiple visas by the Italian Embassy in Pristina. /Justice Trust/