Actuals against protagonists of Protagonists, face the European Union

The Act set up by the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo, in the case known as “Proto”, in which individuals carrying or carrying top official positions are involved, comes at a time when Kosovo must testify to the fight against corruption and organised crime, as condition by the European Union for visa liberalisation, development connoisseurs in Kosovo say. But, according to them, the characteristics that this indictment contains, more is, as they have called it, the <x2nd> approach to eyes” to the international community, rather than a safe approach to fighting corruption and organised crime. The Special Prosecution Act has included the former head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Parliamentary Group, Adem Grabovci, as well as 10 other people with senior official positions. The defendants are accused of criminal acts, of misusing their official positions by co-operating among themselves, of granting illegal privileges and priorities to persons who have competed in important positions.

Ehat Miftaraj from the Kosovo Institute for Justice tells Radio Free Europe that the indictment refers to a provision that does not enter within the criminal acts of corruption. In fact, according to him, this indictment has Amnisted people who continue to be senior Kosovo officials, who were involved in the case known as “Proto”. The key “Actors, who had power, have had executive powers to carry out this criminal act, have not even entered this indictment, including the president of the republic (Hashim Thaci), who at the time exercised the post of prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo. In this direction, more is seen as amnesty to key positions in the Republic of Kosovo and on the other hand, as an indictment just to cast eyes on people and the international community, than if the prosecution is uncompetitive in fighting criminal acts”, Miftaraj points out.

Similar thoughts are echoed by Artan Demhaye from the Organisation for Democracy, Anti-Corruption and Dinjitie “Arise”. Speaking to Radio Free Europe, he voiced doubt that this indictment is related to the condition for visa liberalisation for Kosovo ʹ the fight against corruption and organised crime. “This may be about the visa liberalisation process. There has been pressure to have something concrete on this subject, just because the videos have been very clear and it has been seen what impact it has had on the way of employment”. But, you know, maybe it's kind of the international factor's trick, like if there's something we're doing in this case. But not all it takes, because because of the wiretapping, we've seen that there's a lot of names mentioned, there's a lot of high officials, and it's normally had to expand even more in terms of people who've been involved, estimates Demhaya.

Otherwise, Miftaraj suggests that on the basis of what the indictment contains, it will be difficult for the prosecution to pass the indictment on to second examination or even to have a condemned act of judgment. The fact that this offense, under the indictment, was committed by 11 people, is a wonder that there wasn't even organized crime, which would then determine the much tougher sentences. In fact, if we look carefully at the statement itself given by the Special Prosecutor's Chief Prosecutor, the same, through his statements he said that through this criminal act there is no material harm. With this statement, he has only testified that despite the fact that this indictment was established, it has only been raised to say that such an act has been filed. This indictment is related neither to corrupt criminal acts nor to organised crime”, Miftaraj estimates.

Meanwhile, Demhaya points out that the failure of the indictment leaves the space to suspect it was deliberately made to avoid the charge of more serious criminal acts. This is because since we've seen some individuals who have been involved in this employment market, it's had to be the kind of organised crime, because when there are more than two people involved in committing criminal acts, it might be considered to have to do with organised crime. This has not happened in this case”, Demhaja says.

However, according to the Special Prosecutor, the defendants are accused of committing the criminal act, breaching the equal status of citizens and residents of the Republic of Kosovo in co-ordination. The criminal issue of employment and division of positions based on party affiliation and personal reports has been addressed. In the indictment, besides Grabovci, the current minister, Besim Beqaj, and MP Zenun Pajaziti are included. Also mentioned as accused are two former secretary-generals, a former deputy minister, political advisers, as well as directors of public enterprises and officials from local government.