Attack hearing on Iber-Lepenci Canal, accused face trial

The hearing is held Thursday at the Foundation Court in Pristina.

All three indictees have declared before the court that they are not guilty of the charges they face.

Otherwise, according to the Special Prosecutor's Act, the Dragisa brothers and Jovan Viqejjevic on November 29, 2024, about 18:50, in the village of Varag of Zubin-Potok municipality, have placed explosives in the part of the Iber-Lepenci channel, public infrastructure that serves the supply of drinking water and the needs of the Kosovo Energy Corporation for electricity production.

In the indictment filed by special prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu, the accused -- along with other still unidentified persons -- following a preliminary agreement, and with the aim of serious population intimidation and endangering the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo -- have placed about 20kg of trinittoline (TNT) type explosives within the channel.

According to the prosecution, the explosives were placed in a rope-related bag on a concrete stake in order to cause serious damage to critical infrastructure of water supply and electricity.

The indictment says the defendants have activated explosive matter through the lighting of a slow-burning fuse, causing a powerful explosion that severely damaged the concrete structure of the Iber-Lepenci channel.

As a result of the explosion, according to the Prosecutor's Office, the supply of drinking water had been cut off for citizens of several northern and central Kosovo municipalities, had been hampered by water supply for KEK and power production at the country's level had been jeopardised.

With these actions, according to the Prosecutor, the accused have caused serious risk to life and population security, as well as damage to critical state infrastructure. The material damage caused to the company Iber-Lepenc is estimated at 376 thousand and 774 euros and 70 cents.

They are charged that co-ordination committed criminal work “The re-regardation of constitutional order with the destruction or damage to public installations and equipment”, in connection with criminal work “the carrying out of terrorist activity”, according to relevant provisions of the Kosovo Penal Code.

At the second point of the indictment, the Viviteviq brothers are also accused of illegal possession. According to the prosecution, during raids carried out by Kosovo Police at their homes in Zubin-Potok and in the village of Prevllak in this municipality, a considerable amount of combat weapons has been found and seized. /Eo