The Kosovo Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APK) has filed criminal charges against at least four Members of Parliament for failing to declare their assets. These individuals, who served in the previous legislature and are currently members of the Kosovo Assembly, represent various political entities. They are among 48 criminal complaints submitted by the APK to relevant prosecutor’s offices, which also include ministerial advisors and officials from the Ombudsperson’s institution.
Yll Buleshkaj, Director of the APK, stated that these criminal charges are related to asset declarations submitted in 2024. In an interview with KosovaPress, Buleshkaj revealed that approximately 70 more criminal complaints are in the final stages of preparation and are expected to be submitted to the competent authorities soon.
“Last month, we completed the verification of one-third of public officials who were obliged to declare their assets by that time, related to the declarations submitted in 2024,” said Buleshkaj. “As a result of this verification, 48 criminal complaints have already been sent, and about 70 more are being finalized. In total, the number of criminal complaints is expected to be more than double compared to the previous year, 2024.”
Buleshkaj declined to disclose the names of the implicated MPs, citing concerns that it could jeopardize ongoing investigations. However, he confirmed that they come from different political parties represented in both the previous and current legislatures. The submitted complaints also involve ministerial advisors, officials from public enterprises, and independent institutions, as well as Ombudsperson officials.
Among the irregularities identified in the criminal complaints filed in June were undeclared apartments, unreported income, and undisclosed businesses.
Fines Issued and Whistleblower Reports Increase
The APK has also issued and distributed 99 fines for non-declaration of assets, with 58 of these already collected. Buleshkaj noted a significant increase in the number of fines issued this year. Out of 108 measures taken against officials who delayed asset declarations, 99 were fines, which typically amount to 30 percent of the public official’s monthly salary. The remaining 9 measures were warnings, some public and some private, depending on the severity of the violation.
Furthermore, Buleshkaj reported a significant increase in whistleblower reports. As of June 2025, the number of cases reported to the agency has already surpassed the total for the entire previous year. In 2023, 20 cases were registered, growing to 48 in 2024, while in the first six months of this year alone, over 50 cases have been reported. Whistleblowing involves an individual notifying authorities about legal violations or illegal and unethical actions within public or private institutions, often concerning corruption, abuse of office, or conflicts of interest.
