Supreme Court rejects request for protection of legitimacy in Uke Rugova case

The Supreme Court has refused requests for protection of the legality put forward by advocates of the two accused in the case of former President Uke Rugova, former Culture Minister Astrit Haraqi and others, who are charged with criminal acts related to organised crime.

In this case, the Supreme has rejected requests that were submitted by lawyers Afrim Salihu, defender of accused Visar Beqiri, as well as Besnik Berisha, defender of accused Izet Beqiri.

After the Court of Appeals on September 25th 2017 had refused to drop the indictment against the accused in this case, defendants' defenders Izet Beqiri and Visar Beqiri had filed a request for protection of legitimacy in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme on February 22nd of this year has made the decision that the demands of these two lawyers have called unacceptable.

According to the reasoning of this decision, which has provided “the Justice Voctuation”, it is said that the request for protection of legitimacy could be presented only against the court's decision of firm form or against judicial procedure, which has preceded making such a decision after completing the strict criminal procedure.

In this case, the procedure has not been completed, so the demand for protection of legitimacy is illegal.

Meanwhile, Pristina Foundation Court spokeswoman Mirlinda Gashi has declared for “The Justice Vow” that hearings in this case are expected to be scheduled very soon, as such was left hostage to this response by the Supreme.