Muharrem Qerimi and Bedri Shabani have once again pleaded not guilty in the retrial on espionage charges taking place at the Basic Court in Pristina.
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The proceedings restarted from the beginning after Judge Vesel Ismajli, a member of the trial panel, was expected to retire. The presiding judge, Rrahman Beqiri, announced that Judge Donika Shala-Abdyli would replace him, reports “Betimi për drejtësi.”
Special Prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu said the evidence gathered, which will be examined during the trial, would prove that the defendants had assisted and served the BIA.
According to him, the evidence includes records of entries into and exits from Serbia and returns to Kosovo on the same day, documents, photographic albums containing images from the war in Kosovo, diagrams and prepared photographs. Kodraliu also highlighted materials found in Bedri Shabani’s possession, which he said would prove efforts to link the Mollopolc hospital with the so-called “Yellow House” in Albania.
The prosecutor added that, during the presentation of the evidence, it would be alleged that from an unspecified date until his arrest on 05.06.2024, Shabani had assisted the BIA through Srgjan Rosiq. According to the Prosecution, this was done by collecting and sending information, documents and books related to the events involving the Kosovo Liberation Army, through telephone communications and direct meetings with Rosiq.
On 19 February 2025, the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo filed an indictment against Shabani and Qerimi. They are accused of collecting and transmitting to the Serbian BIA information and documents about the Kosovo Liberation Army, its superiors and members, the Police, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency and the Kosovo Police Inspectorate.
The indictment also includes allegations that data was collected concerning certain events and locations, including the Reçak massacre.
The SPRK claims that their actions were aimed at provoking a broad interethnic conflict in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, creating a false narrative about a link between the KLA Military Hospital and the so-called “Yellow House” in relation to allegations of organ trafficking, and casting doubt on the truth about the massacre.
Qerimi and Shabani have denied the charges and do not accept criminal responsibility for the acts attributed to them. The final decision in the case will be issued by the court, while the hearings are continuing as part of the criminal proceedings.
