From water to concrete: Suspicions of a multi-million-dollar property swap scheme by the Municipality of Peja

The municipality voted for the exchange of the million-dollar property, despite the legal dispute with the Mataj family

The investigative show titled "From Water to Concrete: Suspicions of a Million-Dollar Property Swap Arrangement by the Municipality of Peja", revealed a suspicious scheme to swap a property worth nearly 2 million in the Municipality of Peja. A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-story apartments.

And, a property that was converted from a "water region" into "construction land" by a decision of the municipal executive, for which the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPHI) says that these socially owned water properties (e.g. "Waters") are under their administration and that any action or use of them is illegal.

Precisely, for a part of this property, the Municipality of Peja has also been sued by the Mataj family.

According to Fatmire Mataj-Vokshi, her family has lived in this house for 60 years.

"When my father was alive, he left me a trust, I am now the head of the family, my father said "as long as I live, we have had the house of Xhemajl Kada" and there the municipality told him that the school would be demolished, it would be built and they said if we take it here and if we move it here, where we have the house and they agreed. Since I have the sketch, I have all the documents that it was my father's house. Now the mayor says they are usurpers", said Fatmire Mataj-Vokshi.

The Mataj family filed a lawsuit on April 4, 2022, to confirm ownership rights. However, on December 16, 2025, the Basic Court in Peja dismissed this lawsuit.

The court failed to address the proposal for the imposition of a temporary security measure in time, so the hearing was held on October 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, after the hearing was held on November 6, 2025, together with a judicial geodesy expert, the factual situation was confirmed.

And, after receiving the geodesy expertise dated November 18, 2025, the court returned the lawsuit to the plaintiff by decision for completion and correction. However, according to the court's judgment, the plaintiff did not act in accordance with the observations because he did not specify the claim, but only for the security measure and as a result the case was dismissed.

But the Mataj family filed a lawsuit again on December 24, 2025 against the Municipality of Peja, for confirmation of ownership.

"I ask the Court to make the right decision, I have sent all the documents to the court as soon as I have them, with all the information and everything," Mataj-Vokshi continued.

The residents of this neighborhood, including the Mataj family, had petitioned the Municipality two days before the vote on the property exchange.

The petition, signed by 33 people, requested that the plot that would be voted for exchange be turned into a park and not housing.

A public property worth around 2 million euros was turned from “water area” to “construction land” and ended up in an exchange process that is also contested for its legality. The preliminary actions, the timing of the purchase of the plots and the use of the space before formal approval cast strong shadows of suspicion over the entire procedure.

"We change them even if we have to," Mayor Muhaxheri on changing land from water to construction land

The months-long investigation by "Betimi për Drejtësi" revealed a suspicious process of exchanging a municipal property in Peja worth nearly 2 million euros. A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-storey apartments.

A property that was turned from a "water region" into "construction land" by a decision of the municipal executive, for which the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPHI) says that these socially owned water properties (e.g. "Waters") are under their administration and that any action or use of them is illegal.

In the decision of the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs, dated October 25, 2019, there are a total of 32 plots that have been identified as Social Property "Waters", and since the destination of the waters, they were converted into construction land.

The 2019 decision also included the property that was approved for exchange on April 17, 2025, in the Municipal Assembly of the Municipality of Peja.

The Oath for Justice has also received a version from Chairman Gazmend Muhaxheri regarding the proposal and vote on the property exchange worth nearly two million.

Interview: Gazmend Muhaxheri, Mayor of Peja

Journalist: Hello, Chairman, how are you? Shpresa, journalist from the Oath for Justice.

Muhaxheri: Yes?

Journalist: If possible, just two or three questions. We called you yesterday as well...

Muhaxheri: No. No, there's nothing, there's nothing.

Journalist: Can you tell us if you exchanged a property on April 17th...

Muhaxheri: Nothing, nothing, I can't do anything..

Journalist: A property, in the former Ambienti, in which the Mataj family also lives. Can you tell us on what basis...

Muhaxheri: No, it's not a change, it's not a change

Journalist: Why hasn't it changed? You voted for it.

Muhaxheri: We voted, but the procedures have not been completed

Journalist: Why did you vote on it, do you think it's illegal?

Muhaxheri: Because it is municipal property.

Journalist: Do you think it's illegal?

Muhaxheri: No

Journalist: Why?

Muhaxheri: Why is it municipal property?

Journalist: The idea is that the Ministry of Environment is saying that that property is in "P.sh Ujërat", and then it is up to their department to decide...

Muhaxheri: No, no, it is not. In "Psh Ujërat", in the urban area they belong to the Municipality of Peja and they are not entirely right.

Journalist: Yes, we have the Ministry's documents, where the documents say that those properties belong to the Ministry and are needed...

Muhaxheri: No, they don't belong to the Ministry, in the urban area they belong to the Municipality and they have no rights whatsoever...

Journalist: The Ministry says that the properties that were in "Psh Ujërat" belong to the Ministry of Environment

Muhaxheri: "For example, the waters belong to the Municipality of Peja in the urban area, from when the city is established until it ends they belong to the Municipality of Peja and we change them even if we want to. For the rest we go to Court..

Journalist: Even when the Ministry says they are illegal?

Muhaxheri: No, he never said it and they could never have said it.

Journalist: Have you received a decision from the Ministry regarding the property, which has been exchanged?

Muhaxheri: Yes, it has been received, approval has been received not only for this but also for all the others that we have done.

Journalist: What do you consider illegal?

Muhaxheri: No, it's not illegal, and that's why we did this work, not only for this but also for many other properties.

Journalist: Do you know the owners to whom the property was exchanged?

Muhaxheri: No, that property was not exchanged because the procedure was not completed.

Journalist: Do you personally know the owners to whom it will be exchanged in the future?

Muhaxheri: No.

Journalist: Do you have any relations with the Qehajs?

Muhaxheri: No, I don't have any.

Journalist: Do you know that they have previously used that property...?

Muhaxheri: I know it was, it's Ambient

Journalist: They used it precisely for the issue of the market that was held, meaning they received payment from people who came there to sell...

Muhaxheri: That property... they have the former market, they privatized it and they could have probably used these

Journalist: So the property was privatized..

Muhaxheri: At the market on the opposite side, where the city market used to be...

The Oath for Justice has sent a request for an interview and information to Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri, Rexhep Kurtbogaj, Chairman of the Municipal Assembly in Peja, and Luan Gashi, Head of the Sector in the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs.

But, in a response, Faik Zekaj, the mayor's chief of staff, said that the case is being handled by the competent institutions and as a result, as stated in the electronic letter, no further details can be disclosed.

The owners of Qehaja Group allegedly received money from merchants for the use of property without an exchange decision.

The investigative show titled "From Water to Concrete: Suspicions of a Million-Dollar Property Swap Scheme by the Municipality of Peja" revealed a suspicious scheme to swap a property worth nearly 2 million in the Municipality of Peja.

A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-story apartments.

The Oath for Justice, based on the identification data of the cadastral plots, understands that most of the properties are in the possession of Qehaja Group Sh.PK.

Of the eight cadastral plots, this company has only been the owner of one since 2021, while in the others it mainly appears as the owner since 2023 and 2024.

The Oath for Justice has managed to secure several video recordings, in which it is suspected that the owners of Qehaja Group have been exploiting this property even before it was approved for exchange by the Municipal Assembly in Peja.

The nearly two million-dollar plot serves as a market on Saturdays, and according to video recordings and conversations with traders, they are forced to pay between 10 and 20 euros for the use of the space.

First conversation between the three:

Trader 1: The head has a han, as they say in foreign ***.

Merchant 2: How much are you paying?

Trader 1: It depends on how open you are. (unintelligible) he pays from there until he is quiet, 5,7, 8, 10…

Trader 2: Is Valon coming, is Eid coming?

Trader 1: No, no, he comes, Valoni the Great. Sometimes one, sometimes another. I don't know him, he doesn't come often, he comes very rarely. What if I'm a friend?

Merchant 2: It's been three years since you gave money.

Trader 1: Aihhh me (unintelligible).

Based on this video recording provided by Betimi për Drejtësi, Valon Sadiku, owner of Qehaja Group, is seen going to the traders in line, from whom he is suspected of receiving money for the use of the market property. Meanwhile, in another conversation between the traders, it is shown how the payment method worked.

Second conversation between the three:

Trader 3: He's calling them, don't leave them without seeing you now and tell them not to talk to others, you'd have to be a jerk (unintelligible). Not if you're going to steal 14-15 euros a week.

Trader 4:20

Trader 3: Yes, 10 for you, 15 for him, 20 for someone.

Trader 4: These people from Gjakova have 20.

Merchant 3: 20 I know, I know.

Trader 4: Because they learn a lot.

Trader 3: By the meter, I don't know how they do it.

Merchant 4: Yes, by the meter, by the meter.

When Valon Sadiku is asked about this issue during a phone conversation, he hangs up.

The Oath for Justice has secured a photo that was published by the owner of Qehaja Group, Valon Sadiku, on October 17, 2021, together with the mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri with the caption "I'm here until 2054."

But, in a conversation with "Oath for Justice", Sadiku denies being a supporter of the mayor.

"No, just like all citizens (unintelligible)," says Sadiku about his relationship with Mayor Muhaxheri.

During the conversation with Valon Sadiku, he says that he is not the owner of the company, but his brother, although according to the data in the Business Registration Agency, he is listed as the authorized owner. He said that for all issues regarding the exchange of the municipality's million-dollar property, we should talk to his brother.

Sadiku, although he said he would send his brother's contact information to the Oath for Justice team, did not send it and after this phone call he did not answer any more calls from the Oath for Justice team.

Likewise, Betimi për Drejtësi has sent questions to his brother, but until the broadcast of the show, he has not responded.

Muhaxheri denies violations, MLGA declares property exchange decision illegal

The investigative show titled "From Water to Concrete: Suspicions of a Million-Dollar Property Swap Arrangement by the Municipality of Peja", revealed a suspicious scheme to swap a property worth nearly 2 million in the Municipality of Peja. A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-story apartments.

On April 17, 2025, the Municipal Assembly in Peja had several items on the agenda for consideration. One of them was the exchange of municipal real estate worth nearly 2 million, with private owners, which is located on Konstantini i Madh Street or as it is otherwise called the property at the former Ambienti. With 17 votes in favor, the municipal assembly voted in favor of the mayor's proposal.

Considering that the Municipal Assembly's decision to exchange property, according to procedures, is sent to the Ministry of Local Government and Administration (MLGA) for review of legality, the Oath for Justice has requested a response from this department as well.

Although Mayor Muhaxheri believes that there is no illegality in the property exchange decision, the MLGA's response says the opposite.

According to their response, it is stated that the decision dated April 17, 2025 on the approval of the exchange of municipal immovable property with private owners was assessed as contrary to the provisions of the legislation in force.

"The request for review sent to the Municipality of Peja contains the reasons why the act was assessed to be in violation of the legislation in force. The Municipality of Peja has not taken the necessary actions, as requested by the MLGA, to harmonize the act, within the 30-day deadline, therefore the MLGA has sent the act in question to the Minister of Justice, who is competent to send the case to the competent court as defined in Article 9, point 4 of Law No. 08/L-284 on Administrative Review of Municipal Acts," the MLGA response states.

The Municipal Assembly in Peja approved the decision to exchange property, even though all the owners' properties in total did not reach the value of the municipal property. And, according to the decision, they were obliged to pay the difference in the total amount.

The MLGA, in the justification sent to the Municipality of Peja for the illegality of the decision, states that the Law on Local Self-Government stipulates that municipalities have the right to sell and lease movable and immovable property according to the law, with the exception of the sale of land which is regulated by a special law.

"In cases where the property of the municipality has been valued at a higher price by the Division for the Valuation of Immovable Property for Expropriation and Exchange at the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers, as well as the legal restriction that the municipality cannot sell immovable property, the MLGA requires the Municipality of Peja to carry out the property exchange as determined by the law in force, which means that the properties of the municipality in financial terms should be equivalent or of lower financial value than the properties of the natural and legal persons that are the object of the exchange," states the MLGA's justification sent to the Municipality of Peja.

In a response to Oath for Justice, the State Attorney's Office indicated that, at the request of the MPA, it has taken legal action regarding the case.

Specifically, this body filed a lawsuit on July 17, 2025, at the Basic Court in Pristina, in the Department for Administrative Affairs.

In a response to Betimi për Drejtësi, the information and media communication office of the Basic Court in Pristina said that the case was received on July 17, 2025 and that the court continuously acts on cases based on the number and time submitted to the court.

Therefore, regarding the case in question, as stated in the response, procedural actions have not yet been taken, considering that there are older cases.

The municipality approved the exchange with four private owners, only Qehaja Group aware of the decision

The months-long investigation by "Betimi për Drejtësi" revealed a suspicious process of exchanging a municipal property in Peja worth nearly 2 million euros. A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-storey apartments.

A property that was turned from a "water region" into "construction land" by a decision of the municipal executive, for which the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPHI) says that these socially owned water properties (e.g. "Waters") are under their administration and that any action or use of them is illegal.

In the decision of the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs, dated October 25, 2019, there are a total of 32 plots that have been identified as Social Property "Waters", and since the destination of the waters, they were converted into construction land.

The 2019 decision also included the property that was approved for exchange on April 17, 2025, in the Municipal Assembly of the Municipality of Peja.

Based on the decision to approve the exchange of municipal immovable property, one of the properties with a surface area of ​​3413m2 is valued at 240 euros per meter, which in total amounts to 819,120.00 euros. While the other plot, with a surface area of ​​3750m2, is valued at 900,000.00.

The total value for both cadastral parcels is 1,719,120.

Furthermore, according to the decision, the private properties of the company Qehaja Group SH.PK are in four cadastral plots, three of them with houses, which in total, together with the value of investments, amount to 677.075.00.

Meanwhile, Shkelzen Gutiqi's private properties consist of three cadastral plots, which also have houses and which, together with the value of investments, total 211,660.00.

And, the properties of Raif and Ali Kelmendi are two cadastral plots that, together with the value of the investments, amount to 197,876.00.

All the owners' properties in total amount to 1.086.611 euros. While the total value of the municipality's property is 1,719,120.

Therefore, all private owners, according to the decision, are obliged to pay the Municipality the difference in the amount of 632,509.00 euros.

The Oath for Justice has contacted the private owners to ask them whether the property exchange procedures have been completed, following approval by the Municipal Assembly.

Valon Sadiku, owner of Qehaja Group sh.pk, said that the property exchange procedures with the municipality have not been completed.

"No, no. I don't know, it's been a long time. We had some properties that we should have bought, we should have built, but the municipality didn't allow us to finish the ones that are in the municipal interest," Sadiku said in a phone conversation.

Asked what is planned to be done with the nearly 2 million-dollar property that the Peja Municipal Assembly has voted to exchange, he says he doesn't know yet.

"We have no idea, the municipality just offered them to us in exchange," said Sadiku.

On the other hand, Raif Kelmendi says he is not aware of any property exchange, although the Municipal Assembly in Peja had voted to exchange his property with that of the former Ambienti.

"No, no, I'm not aware of that. They told us that they want to take away that they also took this neighbor's house. Now I'm stuck in the middle, they took it too, now I'm kind of stuck," said Raif Kelmendi.

Klemendi further says that he does not know for what reason his property was searched by the Municipality.

"I don't even know why they're taking them. No, no," said Raif Kelmendi.

Further, in the conversation with Raif Kelmendi, his son was also included, who said that the property would not be exchanged, but would be expropriated.

"They did an assessment of the property and it remained like that. No, it was expropriation. I don't know that they mentioned anything in exchange," said Raif Kelmendi's son.

Meanwhile, according to Raif Kelmendi, his brother Ali lives in England. He said that he does not have any contact information that he can provide to the Oath for Justice team and as a result, communication with Ali Kelmendi has not been established.

Meanwhile, private owner Shkelzen Gutiqi says that he sold his property to Qehaja Group sh.pk in November 2024. That is, 6 months before the exchange was voted on in the Peja Municipal Assembly.

He says he is unaware of his name being included in this municipal decision.

"I didn't know that, I didn't know. No, I'm not aware that I was going to exchange another property for that compensation. I'm not aware of anything else, except that I sold that property, I sold it to the Qehajs and the Municipality took over this work to do there, who knows what they intend to do. So, I exchanged property for property, I'm not aware that this work brought me. I sold the property to the Qehajs. The Qehajs have an agreement with the Municipality and the Municipality now decides what to do with that part," said Gutiqi.

Although the total assessed value of Gutiqi's properties in the Municipality's decision reaches 211 thousand euros, he says that he was paid less by Qehaja Group.

"No, no, I got less," said Gutiqi.

Further, Gutiqi is asked about the period when the sale of his property with Qehaja Group took place.

"The dance could have been last year in November. 2024," he said.

The actual condition of the property according to the municipality is “under construction”, the Ministry of Environment is “nonsense”

The investigative show titled "From Water to Concrete: Suspicions of a Million-Dollar Property Swap Scheme by the Municipality of Peja" revealed a suspicious scheme to swap a property worth nearly 2 million in the Municipality of Peja.

A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-story apartments.

And, a property that was converted from a "water region" into "construction land" by a decision of the municipal executive, for which the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPHI) says that these socially owned water properties (e.g. "Waters") are under their administration and that any action or use of them is illegal.

In the decision of the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs (DÇPJ), dated October 25, 2019, there are a total of 32 plots that have been identified as Social Property "Waters", and since the destination of the waters, they were converted into construction land.

The DÇPJ had requested a geodesy expert from the Directorate for Geodesy and Cadastre (DGKJ) to ascertain the factual situation on the ground.

Based on it, it is said that the surveyor has measured and physically divided and registered these plots, where the destination should have been changed to construction land use.

"Urban planning consents have been obtained for this division, as there are no obstacles to physical division and the creation of new plots for the purpose of regulating the road and plots according to the Urban Regulatory Plan," states the reasoning of the DÇPJ's decision.

Regarding this, the DGKJ explains that the properties have changed the "cadastral surface quality", have changed their destination and that the type of use cannot be considered "water region" or "river", but "construction land", since according to this Directorate, the property falls within the urban area of ​​the city and as such, as stated, is "a municipal public good and must be managed by the Municipality".

"It is well known that the renewal-re-ambulatory of the cadastre was done based on the identification and actual possession of the owner, so the cadastral boundaries were determined based on the actual or real boundaries (wall, mexha, river bank, etc.) and thus the registration in the cadastral registers was done and has remained to this day," states the explanation of the DGKJ attached to the decision of the DÇPJ.

Furthermore, according to the DGKJ's explanation, the Lumbardh River had a natural configuration that included the border of the riverbed banks in the measurement. As stated in the explanation, the river at that time had an irregular flow, therefore according to them the shape was also irregular and as a result the bed space in some places was larger.

Also, the Directorate for Geodesy and Cadastre indicates that at the time of the re-ambulatory period, the river bed was over 200m wide and more than 500m long, but with the construction of protective walls, the width of the bed, according to them, has decreased to 30-40m.

"In the sixties, after the re-ambulatory, protective walls were built where the river passed through the city, which changed the configuration of the river, narrowing the riverbed and therefore the cadastral area in a regular manner, because the river no longer passed through these remaining spaces, but they remained areas covered by soil and transformed into construction land," the DGKJ explanation further states.

In documents obtained by the Oath for Justice, MMPHI had stated that socially owned water properties are under their administration and that any action or use of the properties is illegal.

On the other hand, the head of the River Basin Management Division at MMPHI, Fatlije Buza, says that the Cadastral Agency has managed to verify that the property worth nearly two million is listed as municipal property, but according to her, so far they have not been able to see the property's history.

"We found that these properties do not appear in the lists of the cadastral agency as water properties, which we were actually surprised, we were amazed because when we verified the plots, the plots are in the Lumbardh River belt of Peja. So the instruction, even if they have done this action, they need to be investigated in other ways that we do not know, we are not informed because we work with requests, if the municipality wants to do such an action or build or has an interest, those constructions are allowed only on the basis of public interests," said Buza.

When asked whether the Department of Public Works in Peja can change the purpose of the property, including it in the Development Plan, Buza says that everything is done in harmony with the ministry's plans.

And in this case, according to her, there was no request, notification or question from the Municipality of Peja.

"Everything that is done in these cases must follow the legal basis, because the municipality does not have any instructions or laws, they are all laws that come from the center. There is no legal basis to make any changes because we do not have a legal basis. If we, who are the main bearers, that is, the main owners, the government, for water, if we do not have a legal basis to do such a thing, where do they have it, where did the municipalities get that legal basis. That is, in fact, the changes they make must be made in harmony with the plans made by the ministry, regardless of spatial plans, zones, maps, they all do these things, they harmonize with these," she said.

Further, when asked whether it was possible for the Municipality of Peja to convert the property into construction land, including it in the Development Plan without the consent or decision of the Ministry of Environment, Buza replies:

"No, this is absurd because without a legal basis, it cannot be done except with a plan. A plan is not, a plan is for regulating, to do something on the basis and a plan is made based on criteria. Everything is done with criteria. Everything that is built has criteria. It describes where it affects, does it affect the environment, does it affect the air, soil, water in general, does it affect human well-being, does it affect the ecosystem, plants, does it affect the biota, or whatever, there are criteria," said the head of the River Basin Management Division at MMPHI.

Regarding the geodesy expert engaged by the Municipality, who ascertained the factual situation on the ground, the head of River Basin Management says that this action is "nonsense".

"I don't know how this was done. This is very unclear. This makes no sense. I don't know what to say. It's nonsense, it's meaningless. A geodesist can't do it, where is the legal basis? I'm saying everything is related to the legal basis," said Buza.

Journalist: Does he connect it to the factual situation? Can this be done? According to them, the factual situation does not show that it is water property, but it shows that it is construction property?

"The factual situation on the ground, if someone has a document that is not socially owned, that is a fact that it is a document, but if that document is not referred to in the document, it is saying the factual situation on the ground, the factual situation on the ground has not shown that it is socially owned. It is meaningless, nonsens", said Buza.

Asked whether the Inspectorate of this department has recorded this case, Buza says that it was an unknown case and that based on the information, there was no communication or notification between the Municipality of Peja and the Inspectorate of the MMPHI regarding the decision of the DÇPJ.

From water area to construction land, how the way was paved for the exchange of millions in Peja

A months-long investigation by "Betimi për Drejtësi" reveals a suspicious process of exchanging a municipal property in Peja worth nearly 2 million euros. A decision that essentially directs this public asset towards the company Qehaja Group sh.pk, known for building multi-storey apartments.

A property that was turned from a "water region" into "construction land" by a decision of the municipal executive, for which the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MMPHI) says that these socially owned water properties (e.g. "Waters") are under their administration and that any action or use of them is illegal.

But, has the Municipality of Peja given away a property worth nearly two million in the service of a scheme devised for private interest?

On April 17, 2025, the Municipal Assembly in Peja had several items on the agenda for consideration. One of them was the exchange of a municipal immovable property worth nearly 2 million, with private owners, which is located on Konstantini i Madh Street, or as the property at the former Ambienti is otherwise called.

"We are moving on to the next item in order, the review and approval of the proposal of the Mayor for the exchange of municipal immovable property with the properties of private owners Shkelzen Gutiqi, Qehaja Group, Sh.pk, Raif Kelmendi with 6/7 and Ali Klemendi 1/7, for the purpose of public interest, regulating the riverbed", said the Chairman of the Municipal Assembly in Peja, Rexhep Kurtbogaj, at the session of April 17 last year.

On this issue, the opposition reacted against, demanding that this agenda item be postponed and not voted on, on the grounds that there is a petition from residents that the property be used for greenery and not for construction. The opposition also pointed out that the Mataj family lives on this plot, which has been in a legal dispute with the Municipality over this property since 2022.

Despite this, the municipal assembly voted in favor of the mayor's proposal.

"Then 17 votes in favor, 11 plus two by show of hands, meaning 13 votes against, with one abstention, this point on property exchange is approved," chairman Kurtbogaj concluded.

In this decision of the Municipal Assembly in Peja, the Oath for Justice has identified legal violations, from the time when the Directorate for Property - Legal Affairs turned this property from "water" to "construction land".

Suspicions of a "rigged" property exchange increase even more when we see who and how the properties were purchased in the area where the Lumbardhi River bed was planned to be regulated.

On June 3 of last year, the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs (DÇPJ), in the Municipality of Peja, in a response to "Oath for Justice", announced that on October 25, 2019, it changed the designation of the parcel from Social Property "Ujërat" to municipal property.

According to the DÇPJ, the change in the purpose of the parcel was made with the aim of harmonizing the factual situation.

"During the time of the re-ambulatory in 1955-1956, the river flow there was natural and was registered as such - social property "Ujërat", but after the construction of the Lumbardh riverbed, that part was used by the NP "Ambienti" and was used for other purposes, not for the riverbed," the response from the DÇPJ states.

Further, the response states that after the removal and demolition of the building of the public enterprise "Ambienti", according to them, based on the Law on Construction Land and the Law on Local Self-Government and the Status of the Municipality of Peja, a decision was issued to change the destination of the plot worth nearly 2 million and several others.

"Based on the Urban Regulatory Plan of that time, as well as today, it is continuously foreseen according to the Zonal Map, as an area where high-rise construction and the regulation of the promenade along the Lumbardh River are allowed. All powers for changing the destination of these plots in the urban area according to the Law in force belong to the municipalities", the response of the Directorate for Property and Legal Affairs explains.

Oath for Justice has managed to secure several communication documents between the public enterprise KRU "Drini i Bardhë" and the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

This company had requested clarification on this particular parcel as to whether it could be under their administration.

However, the MMPHI's response dated October 9, 2019, states that based on the Law on Kosovo Waters, in Article 109, any water facility and equipment that has been administered by public enterprises and registered as an economic enterprise with the competent body, will be transferred to the administration of the Ministry.

"Based on the provisions above, regarding plots registered as P.Sh. Ujërat (Social Water Property), the competent authority for their administration is MMPHI and not KRU "Drini i Bardhë", states the document provided by Oath for Justice.

The same clarification was requested from this company during 2025 at the Ministry of Environment.

The ministry's response is the same. In fact, according to them, there is no legal basis yet for granting use of these properties.

"The MMPHI manages the properties and Water Resources based on the legislation in force, which still does not have a legal basis for granting them for use, compensation or sale, therefore we consider that any action or use of the properties is illegal," states the communication of the "Drini i Bardhë" RWC with the MMPHI, dated September 9, 2025, which was provided by the Oath for Justice.