Police confirm investigation into Arben Zarko

The Kosovo Police Information Office has confirmed it is investigating allegations of Zharku, but has not provided more information.

In December 2021, the Ministry of Culture dismissed Zharkun from the post of director of the QKK, following allegations of mismanagement and the centre's indebted debt.

Zharku denied the charges and sent the subject to court.

In addition to the dismissal of the MKRS, it had also called for investigations by Kosovo Police, the Economic Crimes Unit, respectively, to investigate allegations of malmenage in the QKK.

QKK Investigation Request

In July 2021, Zhark was suspended from the post of director of the QKK. But two weeks before he was suspended, The MKRS had requested investigation by police over allegations of mismanagement against former director Zharku.

The MKRS has refused to show which courses it sent to the police to investigate allegations of mismanagement in the QKK.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Police have confirmed the investigation, but has not provided details.

“Police (the relevant directorship) is dealing with the case you are interested in and at this stage nothing more is said”, the Office for Information of the Kosovo Police said in connection with the Zhark case.

But concerning his investigation, Zharku has not yet responded.

But during an interview for Kalxo.com, in March of this year he said he has never been asked by police over the allegations raised against him.

Meanwhile, QKK officials told him there was no request from the police to investigate allegations of abuse, except for 2018.

We had no such request. There was a police request in 2018, but four more years with my knowledge and staff not”, said Lum Chitaku, deputy director of the QKK for Calco.com.

While in Pristina's Constitutional Prosecutor, they have said they have not applied for investigative procedure against the former QKK director.

“Referenced to your submitted request, we inform you that the Constitutional Prosecutor in Pristina has so far rejected something regarding this matter”, Laureta Ulaj said., Official for Media Information and Monitoring at the Basic Prosecutor in Pristina.

Claims of Mismanagement to Zhark

Zharku is suspected to have introduced him QKK in debt, supporting film projects without a confirmed budget, has illegally favoured supporting the film project “Ekzil and has not developed a mechanism for implementing revenues from co-production of QKK-backed films, according to Article 42 of the Law on Cinematography.

A disciplinary Commission established under the QKK had investigated claims filed by the QKK Steering Council for misuse of office by the former director.

The commission had found that the QKK debt (2018, 2019, 2020) totals about 2m euros. Jark is also charged by the Commission for irregularities found in terms of subvention of film “Eczil” and aloation of the entire amount of subvention for once filmmakers, contrary to the law on cinematography and subvention regulations.

Zharku had denied the charges and complained to the MKRS. But in early December 2021 the MKRS Ankes Commission had confirmed some of the findings of the disciplinary Commission. A few days after the Aces Commission's decision, The MKRS cut the contract off Zarko, just months before the second mandate (March 2022) expired at the head of the QKK.

Zharku was first elected to head the QKK on December 13th 2013, while in 2018 he wins the second term as director of the QKK.