US-sponsored tender father “is comfortable in a new position by the government, strongly react to NGOs

Civil Society Organizations ( NGOs have reacted against the Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Ministry's decision to return Nexhat Krasniqi to the head of the Road Infrastructure Department.

On November 3rd, 2023, the US State Department placed Nexhat Krasniqi, former director of the Procuration Department at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, due to involvement in major corruption. According to DASH, in the quality of the official responsible for designing and monitoring procurement contracts, he had misused his public position “by accepting bribes in exchange for contracting to allow industrial park construction in the Drensian municipality of Elton operating company. ”

The integrity and credibility of governance in a democratic society which aspires to the Republic of Kosovo is proved by building and implementing values and standards that promote rule of law and good governance. Accounting and governing with clean hands does not stand for the rehabilitation of the figure of persons who have been involved in corrupt circumstances and who are subject to sanctions by the United States of America, a friend state of the Republic of Kosovo. Such an approach seriously harms the efforts and dedication of the United States and the European Union that through financial assistance and diplomatic support to build and develop creditable institutions, with integrity and dedicated devotion to promote demands for a state where corruption and negative phenomena are fought and as a matter is promoted”, it is said in the response of organisations.

“Contrary to the spirit of the fundamental principles of a democratic and rule of law, as well as to the daily demands to render an account and not promote criminal behaviour, the Ministry of Environment, Space Planning and Infrastructure has re-ordered Nexhat Krasniqi in the position of Department of Road Infrastructure Director”, they said further.

Such decision shows the Kosovo government's lack of will to fight corruption at the highest levels of public officials, harms public interest and testifies to the government's inability of designated dictatorships to adequately respond to the requirements for good governance. On the other hand, running important public works such as road infrastructure with persons who have had problems with the law, in the current case with firm-shaped punishment, dims public confidence in Kosovo public institutions”, the response follows.

In September 2015, the Constitutional Court in Pristina has confirmed that Nexhat Krasniqi, in the quality of the public official, had been bribed by Elton Company for the realisation of the Industrial Park in Drenas. He had been sentenced to 26 months in prison for misusing official office, but that after being filed with the Court of Appeals, it had reduced his sentence from 26 months to 18 by changing the judicial appointment of criminal acts. Despite the fact that the condemnation pronounced by the tribunal has achieved legal rehabilitation, the integrity and credibility of the same is largely damaged that violates public confidence for the same public to exercise public functions related to monitoring projects that could exceed tens of millions of Euros.

“The undersigned NGOs require the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure respectively, to halt the practice of promoting and rehabilitation of convicted persons for corrupt criminal acts as the only way and maintaining institutional integrity and promoting the legal state”, it is said in response.

Signatories:

Kosovo Institute for Justice

INPO Progress Initiative

FOL Movement