Works that officials and citizens were suspected of in the “Brezovica” action.

Court authorities and order in Kosovo announced they have frozen close to 6m euros, allegedly illegally benefited by defendants involved in the case known as “Brezovica”.

On January 6th, Kosovo Police raided nine locations in Pristina, Ferizaj and Shterpca, including several offices of the Ministry of Environment and Space Planning.

Four people, including officials of this ministry, have been arrested in this action.

Ferizaj's chief prosecutor, Shukri Jashari, said at a news conference that those arrested are suspected of acts of misuse of office and taking bribes.

With the prosecutor's decision, Bedri Halimi, chief inspector of the Ministry of Environment under suspicion that he has committed the criminal offence of official office or authority. Also banned has former Environment Ministry Secretary-General Arben Citaku because of suspicion that the same has carried out the abuse of official position or authority and bribery. Also under the prosecutor's decision has a citizen -- an investor in Brezovica, respectively -- been detained under suspicion that he has committed a criminal exercise of influence and taking bribes”, Jashar said.

Today's event is the continuation of the December 21st 2021 investigation, with cases being arrested by ten people, including the former head of the Shrpca municipality, Bratislav Nikollic, who is suspected of illegally granting construction permits to Brezovica.

The prosecutor of the case, Rasim Maloku, said that the frozen amount, allegedly benefited through criminal acts.

“What is most important, during the investigation from December 21st to today, from the financial data we have provided from the banks that own these defendants and their family, so far we have frozen close to 6m euros”, he said.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Police Captain Agron Haziri said that in addition to four detainees, one has been released, three persons have been detained by 48 hours, and five people are on the run.

He said documents, cars, weapons, computers, phones and a former Yugoslav system police uniform have been seized during the action.

Meanwhile, in the defendants' accounts, he said that in addition to the 5,389000 euros, 86,146 US dollars have been frozen.

The prosecutor of the case explained that a number of documents, including water and environmental permits, have been obtained in the Environment Minister.

Meanwhile, in terms of the provisional seizure of alleged properties that were illegally built in Brezovica, the prosecution said it is still investigating to find their official and legal owners.

Arrests in December

In late December 2021, Kosovo police have arrested ten people, including the former head of the Shtrpce municipality, simultaneously Serbian List official Bratislav Nikollic, on charges of misuse of the official position.

Authorities suspect Nikollic has benefited up to a million euros for illegally issued permits for the construction of facilities in Brezovica, in the Sterpca municipality.

Nikollic and other detainees allegedly received villas, cars and other gifts in exchange for issuing permits for building villas and other facilities at “National Park Sharri”, where Brezovica is located.

Brezovica is known for the ski centre.

At the time of the December arrests, judicial authorities have said most of the buildings in Brezovica have been illegally built.

According to them, if it proves that they were built without permission, all properties, including villas, will be temporarily seized.

Shterpca is one of six Serb majority municipalities south of the Iber River in Kosovo.

Topping it, from its founding in 2009 to the end of November 2021, was Nikollic, from the ranks of the Serbian List.

This is the main party of Serbs in Kosovo, which enjoys the support of official Belgrade.