Five prosecutors have officially confirmed their candidacies for the position of State Chief Prosecutor of Kosovo, following the closure of the application deadline on June 10.
The confirmed candidates, listed alphabetically, are:
- Atdhe Dema – Prosecutor in the Terrorism Investigation Department of the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo.
- Naim Abazi – Prosecutor in the Corruption and Financial Crime Investigation Department of the Special Prosecution Office.
- Rafet Halimi – Prosecutor in the Corruption and Financial Crime Investigation Department of the Special Prosecution Office.
- Shqipdon Fazliu – Prosecutor in the Office of the State Chief Prosecutor.
- Zejnullah Gashi – Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Prishtina.
Several candidates publicly confirmed their applications. Naim Abazi stated that he expects a transparent and merit-based process and emphasized that the position has been held by acting officials for years, making this one of the most important appointments in the prosecutorial system.
Rafet Halimi also confirmed his candidacy, stressing that it is in the interest of both the justice system and citizens that the State Chief Prosecutor be selected through a regular and transparent process.
Meanwhile, Shqipdon Fazliu did not respond to media inquiries, but sources within the prosecutorial system confirmed that he has applied. Zejnullah Gashi also officially confirmed his candidacy.
The complete list of applicants is expected to be published in the coming days after the verification process is completed and eligibility criteria are reviewed.
Several other names had been discussed as potential candidates, including:
- Valdet Gashi
- Admir Shala
- Arben Ismajli
- Bahri Hyseni
However, all four denied that they had entered the race.
The competition was officially announced by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council on May 18, 2026. The decision was not unanimous, as council member Milot Krasniqi opposed launching the process, arguing that there was unnecessary haste and questioning the legitimacy of proceeding while the institution was not operating with its full composition.
Krasniqi also referred to the long-running dispute surrounding Blerim Isufaj, whose previous nomination for State Chief Prosecutor was rejected by Vjosa Osmani.
Following the announcement of the new competition, Blerim Isufaj filed a lawsuit before the Administrative Court seeking to suspend the process. The court rejected his request for a temporary measure, and the case is currently under appeal.
Why this matters
The position of State Chief Prosecutor has remained unresolved for several years, making this one of the most significant appointments in Kosovo’s justice system. The selected candidate will lead the prosecutorial system and play a key role in overseeing investigations into corruption, organized crime, terrorism, and other major criminal cases.
