In a court session held Monday at the Basic Court of Pristina, Blerim Avdiu, a Kosovo national living abroad, pleaded guilty to making threats via social media against acting Minister of Agriculture Faton Peci, who also serves as a Member of Parliament for the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV).
Avdiu admitted the charges, claiming that he was intoxicated and unemployed at the time of the offense, and that he had no personal animosity toward the minister. The threats were made through Facebook in early March 2025, following one of Peci’s public posts.
“I plead guilty. I had never met the minister before, and I didn’t even know who he was. I was in Croatia, drunk, and I don’t even remember what I wrote. The next day, I saw the news and broke my phone. I sought help from Croatian doctors,” Avdiu stated in court.
Repeated Threats and Denial of Intoxication Defense
Despite Avdiu’s claim of temporary intoxication, Minister Peci expressed skepticism about the defense, noting that the threats were repeated three times, which, he argued, indicates premeditation rather than a momentary lapse due to alcohol.
“This wasn’t just one message—it happened three times. That goes beyond being drunk for one night,” said Peci, emphasizing that the threats also involved members of his family and reflected deep-seated hatred possibly fueled by ongoing online defamation campaigns against him.
Peci further submitted a civil compensation claim, stating he felt threatened and endangered by Avdiu’s messages.
Legal and Prosecutorial Proceedings
Prosecutor Besart Mustafa supported the guilty plea, affirming it was made voluntarily and after legal consultation. He proposed the court consider the severity of the intent and the repeated death threats, while also acknowledging the plea itself as a mitigating factor.
Defense attorney Halim Shala asked the court to take into account Avdiu’s lack of prior criminal history, low education level, and poor economic and health condition, while also emphasizing his remorse and apology.
“This is his first offense. He had no understanding of the gravity of his words or the official position of the person he was threatening,” said Shala.
Judge Valbonë Fejza approved the guilty plea and is expected to issue a sentence at a later date.
Content of the Threats
According to the indictment, Avdiu sent severe and graphic threats to Minister Peci on March 2, 2025. The messages included multiple death threats and offensive remarks directed at Peci and his deceased family members, and indicated a specific intention to cross the border on May 28 to carry out the threat.
The Prosecution has charged Avdiu with the criminal offense of Threats, under Article 181, Paragraph 3 in conjunction with Paragraph 2 of the Kosovo Penal Code, which deals with serious threats that instill fear and anxiety about life or safety.
Background Note
The initial hearing, originally scheduled for May 5, 2025, was postponed due to Avdiu’s failure to appear in court, which led the judge to issue an order for his compulsory attendance.
