A spokesperson for the United States Embassy in Pristina told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Tuesday that all parties in Kosovo are urged to respect the country’s laws and follow proper legal procedures. This statement came in response to questions regarding recent developments in the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC), which culminated in the dismissal of Acting Chief State Prosecutor Besim Kelmendi.
On November 20, KPC member Jehohna Grantolli proposed Kelmendi’s dismissal following reports in a local media outlet alleging that he had collaborated in 1999 with a Serbian judge on the Reçak massacre case, which the judge considered fabricated.
Kelmendi denied any involvement in the case and called the dismissal unlawful, arguing that it was made without a quorum and that he would continue his duties in the institution.
Several KPC members, including Visar Krasniqi, expressed support for Kelmendi, stating that any decision made without a quorum “is non-existent” and that the proposal to dismiss him was driven by “a clear energy of institutional coup.”
The KPC has 13 members, and only five voted to dismiss Kelmendi. According to regulations, a quorum requires six members.
On the same day, Agron Qalaj was appointed to Kelmendi’s position.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani stated yesterday that she is reviewing the process from a legal perspective and is in consultation with QUINT countries (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France) regarding developments in the KPC, which she described as “extremely serious.”
“The justice system in the country has long faced challenges regarding professionalism, integrity, independence, and impartiality. It is very important that my statements are not seen as interference, because I am a political figure who has never intervened in the justice system. We are leaving room for the joint analysis we are conducting with our partners regarding the process that occurred related to the dismissal or attempted dismissal,” Osmani told reporters.
On the day of the dismissal, a KPC member accused Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution, Blerim Isufaj, of being behind attempts to remove Kelmendi. However, the Special Prosecution denied any interference by Isufaj in KPC decisions.
President Osmani had previously refused to decree Isufaj as Chief State Prosecutor in October 2023, citing violations in his selection process by the KPC. A month later, the KPC resubmitted Isufaj’s nomination, but the President took no further action.
Kelmendi continued as Acting Chief State Prosecutor after Aleksandër Lumezi’s mandate ended in 2022.
Reports Regarding Kelmendi
On November 19, Besim Kelmendi held an extraordinary press conference denying reports that he had collaborated in 1999 with Serbian judge Danica Marinkoviq, who oversaw the Reçak massacre case.
At the time, Marinkoviq worked at the District Court in Pristina and had described the massacre as a “fabricated event.” The massacre resulted in the deaths of 45 Albanian civilians.
Kelmendi confirmed that he had appeared as a witness at the Kosovo Special Prosecution regarding his work at the court during the massacre. He emphasized that he was employed as a professional associate at the District Court in Pristina and was performing clerical duties, denying that he served as Marinkoviq’s assistant.
According to Kelmendi, Marinkoviq was the judge who “destroyed the evidence of the Reçak massacre.”
He made these statements following claims by local media outlet Paparaci that Kelmendi had been involved in handling the Reçak case in 1999. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has not been able to verify these claims.
During the November 19 press conference, Kelmendi was asked why he was summoned as a witness to the Special Prosecution regarding the case.
“I was called as a witness because a person who was a prosecutor at that time, named Ismet Shufta, when asked who had worked at the court, mentioned the names of people who came to mind. My name also came to mind because I am now Acting Chief Prosecutor. I don’t know why, as I received no explanation,” Kelmendi said.
