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By:
Donisa Fazliu
- July 24, 2026 19:46
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The Special Prosecution has requested that Sami Lushtaku and others be found guilty of witness intimidation in the war crimes case known as “Drenica”. According to the Prosecution, there is evidence that the defendants influenced the witness’s statement to be changed. The defendants themselves asked the Court to acquit them of the charges.
Special Prosecutor Florije Salihu Shamolli has requested that Sami Lushtaku and others, accused of witness intimidation in the war crimes case known as "Drenica", be found guilty and sentenced according to the law.
In her closing statement, the prosecutor said that the evidence administered during the trial will prove the guilt of the accused.
"They contacted witnesses, took it upon themselves to provide him with his wife, took it upon themselves to provide him with an apartment in Fushë Kosovë, promised him a monthly salary of 500 euros, as well as all the expenses that this witness would have for his own needs," said Prosecutor Salihu.
According to her, the witness, for whom it is alleged that the accused had influenced the change of his statement, had started talking about the case at the moment when the accused were not fulfilling their promises to him.
Unlike the Prosecution, the defendants requested to be acquitted of the charges.
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Lushtaku: I have been penalized and persecuted by EULEX for 13 years
The defendant, Sami Lushtaku, complained to the justice system, which he said has been persecuting him for more than a decade.
"I have been persecuted by EULEX justice for 13 years without arguments and facts. It is important for me that I feel innocent and I feel that I have been penalized and persecuted by EULEX courts for 13 years. I have never asked for mercy, I have always asked only for justice, and in this case I ask only for justice," said Lushtaku.
The same request to be acquitted of the charges was made by the other defendants, Ismet Haxha, Rrustem Rukolli, Rexhep Xhota, Fatmir Mjaku, Skender Tahiri, Bajram Dibrani and Sheremet Jashari.
The defendants' lawyers also requested that they be declared innocent.
"What we understood is that the Prosecution is asking the trial panel to believe a witness who gave a statement during the investigation phase, changed that statement, requested financial means to change the statement, and here when he came to this courtroom, he changed it in a controversial way," said Artan Qerkini, Lushtak's lawyer.
Meanwhile, Rukoll's lawyer, Arianit Koci, said that the prosecution has no incriminating evidence against his client.
"The prosecution has not proven what concrete actions my client committed and what evidence supports these claims. The court must acquit him of all charges," Koci urged.
The prosecution alleges that the accused, as a criminal group, committed the criminal offenses of “Obstruction of testimony or official proceedings” and “Intimidation during official proceedings”. According to the indictment, from June 2013 to September 2015, they forced two witnesses to change their testimonies in the “Drenica” case.
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Lushtaku defends himself silently in the trial for "witness intimidation"
The charges in the “Drenica” case relate to the mistreatment of civilians in Likoc/Likoc during the war. Several people have been convicted for this case.
The announcement of the decision is expected to be made on Tuesday.
