LDK: Scandal with state reserves affects national security

The Democratic League of Kosovo has described the state reserves case as a scandal that affects national security, for which the acting Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, was indicted a few days ago.

Two days ago, the Special Prosecution Office filed an indictment against Hajdari and several other officials and a businessman on suspicion of having abused their official duties for financial benefits for other persons and causing damage to the budget of about three million euros, when contracting state reserves during 2022. According to the indictment, Hajdari was even aware that the price of wheat imported from a Turkish company was about 200 euros more expensive per ton, but still decided to continue with the higher price.

And in a press conference on Thursday, LDK MP Alban Zogaj and party member Berat Rukiqi described it as a "not merely administrative" case.

"We are talking about a serious case, already documented by the Special Prosecution Office, which is related to the strategic reserves of the state of the Republic of Kosovo. This is not a purely administrative case, but affects national security, public finances and the institutional integrity of our state," said Zogaj.

Besides the higher-priced contract, according to LDK, the second violation was favoritism towards companies. Zogaj also described as scandalous the accusation that businessmen who have no official duties were involved in discussions about the reserves.

Rukiqi, meanwhile, said that the LDK is seeking political responsibility for this case. He said that similar situations also occur in energy, other tenders, and decisions of the incumbent government.