Updated text - The Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, has completed his interview at the Skenderaj police station regarding the physical beating of the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hysni Mehani, yesterday in a cafe in the city.
After the interview, Lushtaku said that everything that has happened in the past two days is political and that the incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti is being victimized on the eve of the campaign for the June 7 elections.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributePDK and KLA OVL call citizens to the Police Station where Lushtaku is expected to be interviewed
The head of the PDK assembly in Skenderaj, Alban Berisha, and the KLA War Veterans Organization have invited citizens to gather in front of the Police Station, where the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, is expected to be interviewed.
Lushtaku is expected to be interviewed regarding the attack on Deputy Minister of Finance Hysni Mehani, who is the chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement center in this municipality, as well as the party's activist, Bahri Zabeli, which occurred on Thursday.
Mehani, Zabelli and Vetëvendosje have said that the attack was carried out by the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, and his bodyguards, but Lushtaku, through a post on Facebook, has denied that he carried out the attack himself.
During the day, the deputy mayor of Skenderaj Municipality, Fadil Nura, said that the mayor of this municipality, Sami Lushtaku, has not yet received an official invitation from the justice authorities to respond regarding the allegations that he attacked Deputy Minister of Finance Hysni Mehani on Thursday.
Nura said in a press conference that Lushtaku is willing to make a statement about the case, while emphasizing that the latter was not directly involved.
"We have not received an official invitation as an institution so far. We are waiting, and when we do, Lushtaku will certainly respond. We have not received an official invitation. The case was received from Pristina and some of the witnesses are in the process of being interviewed, so whenever there is a need, I said contact me," said Nura.
Nura added that the two officials arrested the day before for the attack were not at the scene.
"Regarding the incident, Lushtaku was not involved in the incident, but this will be clarified by the responsible authorities... At this moment, two officials who were not at the scene of the incident have been detained since yesterday afternoon. There is also evidence for this," he said.
Nura called the presence of the Special Unit in Skenderaj on Thursday evening "unnecessary".
Lushtaku after the interview: This is all politics, Albin Kurti is going to be victimized
The Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, has completed his interview at the Skenderaj police station regarding the physical beating of the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hysni Mehani, yesterday in a city cafe. The interview lasted less than an hour. The Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica has confirmed that the case has continued in regular procedure.
After the interview, where he was welcomed by numerous citizens outside the police station, Lushtaku said that everything that has happened in the past two days is political and that the incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti is being victimized on the eve of the campaign for the June 7 elections.
"Everything that has happened is political. Albin Kurti wants to be victimized through such actions. Under normal conditions, I would not have been interviewed," he said.
Lushtaku further said that he does not know in what capacity he was interviewed and that he expects "to be cleared of the slander that Hysni Mehani has made."
Furthermore, he was criticized for why the Special Unit was brought to Skenderaj yesterday.
"It is very difficult for the citizens of Skenderaj, other municipalities do not deserve it either, for special units with long weapons to provoke the citizens of this country who have given so much for Kosovo. I believe that we should not go looking for them without reason and without need. They are Kosovo police officers whom we respect very much," Lushtaku added.
Lushtak's statement (VIDEO):
Two suspects in the attack on Mehani in Skenderaj are released
Sami Lushtaku & Hysni Mehani
EL and BN, who were detained for 48 hours yesterday, were released on Friday in regular proceedings for the physical attack on Deputy Minister of Finance, Hysni Mehani, in a cafe in Skenderaj.
The news was confirmed to KosovaPress by the spokesperson for the Mitrovica Prosecution Office, Valon Preteni.
Currently, the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, is being interviewed regarding this issue.
Lushtaku arrives at the Police Station, will be interviewed about the attack on Mehani
The Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, has arrived at the Skenderaj Police Station where he will be interviewed regarding the attack on Deputy Minister of Finance Hysni Mehani, who is the chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement center in this municipality, as well as the activist of this party, Bahri Zabeli, which occurred on Thursday.
He was greeted with applause and cheers from citizens gathered in front of the Police Station.
Lushtaku: Unlike Kurti, I respect the institutions of the Republic
The Mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, has said that unlike the acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, he respects the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and responds to them whenever asked.
In a post on his Facebook profile, accompanied by a video of him entering the Police Station for an interview, Lushtaku said that he answers to the Republic, the nation, and God.
"I answer to the Republic, the nation and God. As always, today I answer to justice. I respect the institutions for which I and my comrades have fought and given everything. Unlike Albin Kurti, who respects neither the Police nor the Prosecution, who violates the Constitution whenever it suits him politically, I always respect and answer to the institutions of the Republic," he wrote.
Lushtaku called for calm in the hope that the Prosecution will not be instrumentalized.
"I call for calm and prudence while I hope that the Prosecution will not be instrumentalized, but will carry out its work independently, without influence and without pressure!", his writing concludes.
VIDEO:
Mehani: Lushtaku attacked me after my complaints about misuse of millions
Hysni Mehani (Photo: KTV)
The head of the Vetëvendosje Movement branch in Skenderaj and also Deputy Minister of Finance, Hysni Mehani, has stated that the physical attack by Sami Lushtaku yesterday occurred after complaints that, according to him, are related to the misuse of millions.
Mehani explained his version of the event in an interview with KTV.
"They were talking at my table, and only at the last moment did I hear Mr. Lushtaku say to me 'you told me...', he didn't finish the sentence and hit me with the phone and then with other strong means. An attack began, initially from Mr. Lushtaku, I tried to defend myself with a chair from Mr. Lushtaku and then from his bodyguards", Mehani declared.
He claimed that the attack was organized and linked to an e-mail and documents that, according to him, speak of "illegal construction" worth over 13 million euros.
"The attack happened because of this e-mail and these documents that are square meters of illegal construction that go somewhere over 13 million euros. I was in the municipality yesterday at 08:15, if Lushtaku had anything to do with attacking me, it has nothing to do with that. When this e-mail came, after complaints to the Information and Privacy Agency that talk about the misuse of millions, then Lushtaku attacked me at 12:00, in the middle of the city," he said.
According to Mehan, the purpose of the attack was not only physical violence, but also public intimidation.
"Mr. Lushtaku's goal was not physical violence, but violence to show the masses about the level of emancipation for those who dare to oppose him," Mehani declared.
VIDEO:
The KLA's OVL calls on citizens to gather in front of the Police station where Lushtaku is expected to be interviewed.
Photo: EO
The KLA War Veterans Organization has invited all veterans and citizens who, it is said, feel respect for the liberation war, to head to Skenderaj and gather near the Police station, where it is said that the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, is expected to be interviewed.
"Today more than ever, unity, dignity and support are required for those who stood up for the Fatherland in the most difficult days of our history. Our presence is a message that the KLA's liberation war was just and that its fighters will never be alone," their appeal posted on Facebook reads. "We invite everyone to participate calmly, with dignity and in the spirit of civic respect, as the history of our liberation war deserves," the appeal further states.
Lushtaku is expected to be interviewed regarding the attack on Deputy Minister of Finance Hysni Mehani, who is the chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement center in this municipality, as well as the party's activist, Bahri Zabeli, which occurred on Thursday.
Mehani, Zabelli and Vetëvendosje have said that the attack was carried out by the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, and his bodyguards.
Lushtaku, through a post on Facebook, denied that he carried out the attack himself.
"Albin Kurti's government, through its mechanisms, attempted to attack me today in Skenderaj. I have spent my life serving the country, and citizens no longer tolerate labels like 'Sami Serbia', which is why they reacted!", he wrote.
The head of the PDK assemblymen calls citizens to the Police Station, says that Lushtaku will be interviewed
Photo: Economy Online
The head of the PDK assembly in Skenderaj, Alban Berisha, has invited citizens to gather at the Skenderaj Police Station, where he said that the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, will be interviewed.
In a Facebook status posted around 15:00 PM, he invited citizens, as he wrote, to remain united and on civic alert.
"The interview is expected to take place in a few minutes, so I invite as many citizens as possible to gather to welcome the Mayor General Sami Lushtaku until its conclusion. Meeting place: in front of the Police Station. Yesterday, citizens saw with their own eyes the misuse of the Special Unit, with masks and long weapons, in a way that created tension and fear among citizens. These actions are reminiscent of the time when the police were used for political pressure and not for justice. Let no one think that they can intimidate us with scenes of force and demonstrations of power. Dignity is not sold or bought! Insults, slander and propaganda do not pass", Berisha wrote.
On Thursday, in the middle of the day, 50 meters from the Municipality of Skenderaj, Deputy Minister of Finance Hysni Mehani, who is the chairman of the Vetëvendosje Movement center in this municipality, as well as the activist of this party, Bahri Zabeli, were physically attacked.
They, as well as Vetëvendosje, have said that the attack was carried out by the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, and his bodyguards.
Lushtaku is the head of the Democratic Party branch in Skenderaj, a municipality in which this party has a stronghold.
He, through a post on Facebook, denied that he carried out the attack himself.
"Albin Kurti's government, through its mechanisms, attempted to attack me today in Skenderaj. I have spent my life serving the country, and citizens no longer tolerate labels like 'Sami Serbia', which is why they reacted!", he wrote.