Kurti's four ministers with indictment, government silent

I don't think certain media dare even mention the name of them”, says Candorman.

The editor was appointed to the position of Deputy Finance, Labour and Trade Minister on 1 April and resigned after only five days.

News of Pumerman's appointment to the post of deputy minister prompted numerous public opinion reactions because he had been convicted in October 2018 of misusing public money.

In a conversation for Radio Free Europe, Bemerman does not show whether Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has demanded his resignation, but in a plea of leaving the government mentions strengthening his party, the Ashkanli Party for Integration.

I'm as clean as a tear with the law because I don't have any charges, no offense, no criminal record. It has been a politically installed, politically cautious decision. It has passed, and I haven't had anything to do with law”, said Candorman.

The swimmer was charged by the prosecution that during the period of June 2015 until January 2016, from the official bank card, destined for travel abroad, he has issued a total of 12,363.40 euros without approval for official travel.

The court had sentenced him to six months in prison, but with his consent, the penalty was replaced by a fine of 3,000 euros.

Fighter is not the only one who had trouble with the law

Lieburn Aliu, Albulen Haxhiu, Jelal Svecla and Arberia Nagavci all ministers in the government led by Albin Kurti have active charges.

Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Minister Lieburn Aliu realized there was an act of action on his first day of work.

He said he was unaware there is any indictment filed by the Prosecution.

As the Prosecutor's Office announced, Aliu is accused of misusing official office or authority, during the time he exercised the office of director of the Urban Directorate of Pristina.

On April 6th, Aliu and the other indictees in this case appeared before the Constitutional Court in Pristina, but the initial session failed.

Kurti silences the indictment against his minister

Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu, as well as the prime minister himself, Albin Kurti three years ago, were sentenced in a trial process “for use of weapons and obstruction of the official person”.

Haxhiu was sentenced for the “use of weapons” as well as “preventing the official person” from serving a unique sentence of one year and three months in prison on bail.

At the time, Albin Kurti, an MP, was also sentenced to a unique sentence of one year and six months in prison on bail.

But, Minister Haxhiu is also facing another judicial process, which also relates to its activity as a Kosovo Parliament deputy.

Haxhiu is alleged to have committed criminal work “ownership, control or unauthorized possession of weapons”.

The other two ministers -- the interior one, Xhelal Svechla and Education Minister Arberie Nagavci -- have the indictment for criminal work “the use of the weapon and the obstruction of the official person”.

All these charges, excluding the indictment against Libon Ali, relate to the drop of tear gas at Kosovo's Assembly hearings aimed at obstructing ratification of the Demarcing Agreement with Montenegro, the Agreement on Association of Serb-run municipalities, as well as the session of Hashim Thaci's election in the position of Kosovo president.

Government Silences Public Pressure

On April 6th, Radio Free Europe has sent several questions to the government to ask what will happen if the ministers with the indictment are punished.

Kosovo Government spokesman Kryeziu has not responded to REL's interest, either on the phone or via email.

Legally troubled candidates standard political parties

But Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has not yet been declared on this issue. In his appearance before the media, Kurti has so far avoided questions on the issue.

Civil society: LVV has had to keep promise of ministers without execution

Erblin Hoxha, project co-ordinator in “Movement FOL”, says Kurti's party, Vetevendosje, has repeatedly pledged that it will not appoint ministers who have a criminal past or have active indictment.

Their appointment in these positions, at least of the fundamental principles that the Vetevendosje Movement has imposed, should not at least be ministers until this problem is resolved and a decision is made”, Hoxha says.

According to Hoxha, however, the charges of other ministers differ from that of Minister Lieburn Aliu, who is accused of misusing official office or official authorities.

Hoxhaj says that despite the LVV's violating the promoted principles of a government without ministers accused, each minister is innocent until the court condemns them.

“We should not necessarily go and believe that each of these appointed ministers should be punished because the principle of legitimacy and indictment is that each is innocent until the point of being convicted”, Hoxha says.

In the February 14th elections, the Vetevendosje Movement list lacked Albin Kurti and Albulen Haxhiu after their competition was not allowed due to sentences pronounced by the tribunal.

In spite of that, Albin Kurti became prime minister on 22 March, when his government was voted in majority votes in the assembly.