Kosovo: Five Former Ministers Under Investigation

Lumezi told Pristina daily Zeri that the prosecution will not spare anyone who has violated the law, regardless of the positions they hold or held before.

“I can say that we are currently investigating five former ministers and there are no cases in the prosecution related to the names of the current government,” Lumezi is quoted by Zeri as saying.

Lumezi said that the probes cover the period from 2007 to present, but he did not give the names of the ex ministers currently being probed, nor did he specify why they are being investigated.

Balkan Insight has found in previous investigations that former transport minister Fatmir Limaj is under a probe for corruption, and that ex minister for trade and industry Lutfi Zharku is being investigated for allegedly deliberately lowering the quality of fuel entering the country.

Lumezi said that there will never be any justice in Kosovo if politicians work unfairly and that there is a need to fight those who violate the law.

He said that the Pristina district prosecution has around 1,000 cases and around 80 per cent are currently being processed. 

“We are talking about the cases involving identified accused persons but there are also cases with unknown perpetrators,” Lumezi said.

The prosecution stated that around 70 cases relate to corruption involving state and public institutions and public enterprises.

He stressed that the fight against corruption and other serious crimes such as human trafficking, murder and smuggling are priorities for the prosecution.