The trial of Fatmir Sheholli, who has been charged by Kosovo’s Special Prosecution with alleged espionage on behalf of Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA), is expected to begin Thursday afternoon at the Basic Court in Prishtina.
Sheholli appeared before the court for an initial hearing on September 7, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
“I feel innocent,” Sheholli told the court.
During the same hearing, his lawyer, Mentor Neziri, said the defense had decided, following consultations with Sheholli, to waive its right to challenge the evidence and request the dismissal of the indictment. The defense instead asked the court to proceed directly to trial.
Judge Avni Syla is presiding over the case, while the indictment is being represented by Special Prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu.
Prosecutors allege Sheholli worked for Serbian intelligence
According to the indictment obtained by KALLXO.com, Sheholli is accused of working continuously and intentionally as a recruited operative of Serbia’s BIA from an unspecified date until October 9, 2025.
Prosecutors allege that he acted on instructions from a BIA official described as the director of the agency’s Directorate for Counterterrorism and International Organized Crime.
According to the indictment, Sheholli obtained information concerning political and security activities and the functioning of Kosovo’s institutions and subsequently passed the information to the Serbian intelligence official.
The Special Prosecution further alleges that Sheholli carried out an operational plan prepared by a BIA official that was intended to harm the interests of the Republic of Kosovo.
Prosecutors claim the plan was aimed at directly interfering in Kosovo’s October 12, 2025 election process. According to the indictment, on September 26, 2025, Sheholli traveled to North Mitrovica, where he allegedly met an unidentified person who provided him with audio recordings and transcripts of conversations involving senior officials of Kosovo’s Ministry for Communities and Return.
The materials were allegedly intended to compromise the officials, prosecutors say.
The indictment further alleges that Sheholli received €5,000 as compensation for carrying out the assignment.
Prosecutors claim that, following instructions from the Serbian BIA, Sheholli subsequently handed the materials to journalist Milaim Zeka, along with €1,000, and instructed him to publish them on his program Pa Rrotlla several days before the election.
Separate extortion allegations
The second count of the indictment accuses Sheholli of extorting Arben Jetullahu and causing him financial damage estimated at €13,000.
According to the Special Prosecution, the alleged extortion took place between 2022 and 2025 and involved threats to publish video recordings and information that could seriously damage Jetullahu’s reputation and standing.
Prosecutors say evidence for the allegations was obtained through special investigative measures authorized by the court.
According to the prosecution file, communications and threatening messages allegedly sent by Sheholli to Jetullahu were obtained during the investigation. The messages were allegedly transmitted through one of Jetullahu’s family members while he was in detention.
The prosecution claims that, in exchange for not publishing the recordings, a family member of Sheholli demanded €700 per month. According to the case file, €500 was eventually paid following the threats and concerns that the recordings would be made public.
Sheholli has been in detention since October 2025
Sheholli was arrested on October 9, 2025, on suspicion of espionage. The following day, the Basic Court in Prishtina ordered his detention for one month.
His detention was subsequently extended several times, including in November 2025, January, March and May 2026, and again in July 2026.
According to court decisions, Sheholli has remained in detention since his arrest in October 2025.
The allegations against Sheholli remain subject to judicial proceedings, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a final court decision.
