The trial at the Basic Court in Pristina against the two defendants, Bedri Shabani and Muharrem Qerimi, continued on Thursday behind closed doors. The hearing is focused on presenting forensic psychiatric expertise regarding defendant Shabani.
Judge Rrahman Beqiri confirmed that the proceedings are being held in private, as also happened during hearings on January 28 and 29, 2026.
The decision to close the sessions to the public was made following a proposal by Shabani’s defense lawyer, Besnik Berisha, who argued that psychiatric experts would testify about Shabani’s mental condition.
“With the aim of protecting the dignity of Bedri Shabani and safeguarding privileged information that cannot be shared without his consent, we propose that this part of the hearing be closed to the public,” the defense stated.
A scheduled hearing on November 20, 2025, had previously been postponed after a psychiatric evaluation was ordered for Shabani.
The indictment by the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo (PSRK), confirmed by both the Basic Court and the Court of Appeals, was filed on February 19, 2025, against Shabani and Qerimi. They are accused of collecting and transmitting information and documents to Serbia’s Intelligence and Security Agency (BIA) related to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), its commanders and members, the Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), and the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, as well as specific events and sites, including the Reçak massacre.
According to the prosecution, these actions aimed to incite broader interethnic conflict in Kosovo, create a false narrative linking the KLA Military Hospital to the so-called “Yellow House” allegation of organ trafficking, and cast doubt on the truth of the Reçak massacre.
The indictment charges Shabani and Qerimi with espionage, while Qerimi also faces an additional charge of illegal possession of weapons.
Shabani is accused of assisting Serbia’s intelligence agency (BIA) from an unspecified date until his arrest on June 5, 2024, by collecting and transmitting sensitive information related to the KLA, including communications with senior BIA officials and former Serbian police commanders involved in wartime operations in Kosovo.
Qerimi is accused of similar activities from 2012 until his arrest, as well as unauthorized possession of a firearm discovered during a police search.
Both defendants are charged with “Espionage” under Article 124 of the Criminal Code, while Qerimi also faces charges of illegal possession of weapons under Article 366.
