The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council has voted to remove Besim Kelmendi from his position as acting Chief Prosecutor, just one day after he testified as a witness in the investigation of the Reçak massacre. The decision passed with five votes in favor.
Following Kelmendi’s dismissal, Prosecutor Agron Qalaj has been appointed as his successor.
Earlier in the council meeting, Kelmendi described the move to remove him as a “plan” orchestrated by certain groups and individuals aiming to control the Kosovo prosecutorial system. He left the room after making the statement, emphasizing that his dismissal appears politically motivated rather than based on performance or legal grounds.
Observers have noted that the abrupt removal of Kelmendi, a figure known for his outspoken stance on justice and institutional independence, raises concerns about potential political interference in the prosecutorial system at a sensitive moment for Kosovo’s rule of law.
