The Basic Court in Prishtina is set to hold an initial hearing against Fatmir Sheholli, who has been indicted by Kosovo’s Special Prosecution for espionage and blackmail.
The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and marks one of the first procedural steps in the criminal case, which involves allegations of foreign intelligence cooperation, attempted interference in Kosovo’s electoral processes and blackmail against a businessman.
According to the indictment, Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) allegedly provided Sheholli with €5,000 and audio materials intended to influence local elections among Kosovo’s Serb community.
The prosecution alleges that, shortly before last year’s local elections, Sheholli received audio recordings and transcripts involving senior officials of Kosovo’s Ministry for Communities and Return, headed by Nenad Rašić.
Prosecutors claim the materials were intended to be published in Kosovo media to discredit government officials and institutions and influence the electoral process.
According to the indictment, Sheholli allegedly handed the materials to journalist and political analyst Milaim Zeka, along with €1,000, and instructed him on the timing and manner in which they should be published on his program “Pa Rrotlla.”
The prosecution alleges that Sheholli told Zeka the materials had been obtained from the German development agency GIZ.
“Top Secret 2” and allegations of an anti-Kosovo campaign
Another element of the case concerns a photograph found on Sheholli’s phone bearing the title “Top Secret 2.”
According to the prosecution, the document outlines an alleged plan aimed at creating the perception that Kosovo was becoming a radicalized and extremist state.
The indictment claims the plan involved collecting funds from Islamic embassies in Belgrade and investing them in the construction of mosques in highly visible locations.
According to prosecutors, the alleged objective was to create an atmosphere of insecurity, encourage some young people to leave Kosovo, influence Western powers’ perceptions of the country and ultimately create conditions for Kosovo to return under Serbian jurisdiction.
“Leptiri” and allegations involving Albin Kurti
Prosecutors also say a document titled “Leptiri” was found on Sheholli’s phone.
The indictment describes it as an alleged document prepared by Serbia’s State Security Service (RDB) in 2001, outlining a plan to compromise and recruit Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti while he was imprisoned in Serbia.
According to the prosecution, the plan called for an operative known as “Leptiri” to obtain compromising material about Kurti and use pressure against him in an effort to secure his cooperation with the RDB.
Blackmail allegations
In addition to espionage, Sheholli is charged with blackmail.
According to the indictment, he allegedly possessed video recordings involving a Kosovo businessman and used the material to demand more than €13,000 from him.
The Special Prosecution says it has photographs, recordings and other evidence obtained through special investigative measures, including surveillance and wiretapping.
Sheholli was arrested on October 9, 2025, and has reportedly remained in pretrial detention since then.
He has previously worked as a journalist and served as an adviser in the Municipality of Gračanica and the Ministry for Communities and Return. He has also headed a non-governmental organization and appeared frequently in the media as a political analyst.
The initial hearing is expected to address procedural matters and the positions of the parties regarding the indictment.
All allegations described in this article are claims contained in the Special Prosecution’s indictment. Fatmir Sheholli is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a final court decision.
