Appeal overturns convictions in “Veterans” case, Agim Çeku and all defendants released

The Court of Appeals of Kosovo has decided to change the first-instance judgment in the case known as the “Veterans” case, acquitting Agim Çeku and nine former members of the Government Commission for the Verification of Veterans. The decision also upholds the acquittal of Nuredin Lushtaku and Smajl Elezaj.

The criminal panel of the Special Department of the Court of Appeals accepted the defense appeals and changed the judgment of the Basic Court in Pristina, dated 12 September 2025. Under that decision, ten defendants had been found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison each.

The acquittal covers Agim Çeku, Sadik Halitjaha, Shkumbin Demaliaj, Qelë Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Rrustem Berisha, Faik Fazliu, Fadil Shurdhaj and Xhavit Jashari.

According to the Court of Appeals, it was not proven during the proceedings that the defendants had jointly committed the criminal offense of abusing their official position or authority.

The court also deemed unfounded the Special Prosecution’s appeal against the decision to acquit Nuredin Lushtaku and Smajl Elezaj. Both had been found not guilty at the first-instance level.

With this decision, all 12 people involved in the proceedings have been acquitted. The decision was reported on 11 September, while the judgment of the Court of Appeals is dated 9 September 2026.

The Special Prosecution had requested that Lushtaku and Elezaj be found guilty, while seeking harsher sentences for the other ten defendants.

The Court of Appeals did not accept this position. The Prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal was rejected, while the request for harsher sentences became moot following the decision to acquit the defendants.

The costs of the criminal proceedings will be paid from the budget. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has been instructed to pursue any potential property-related claims through civil proceedings.

The criminal case concerned the recognition and verification of veterans’ status, as well as that of other categories arising from the Kosovo Liberation Army’s war.

The indictment alleged that the defendants, in their capacity as members of the Government Commission, had exceeded their powers or failed to fulfill their official duties. According to the Prosecution, this had enabled other individuals to unlawfully obtain veteran status.

The defense had denied the defendants’ individual responsibility, arguing that applications had been reviewed in the field through the structures and chain of command of the operational zones.

In conclusion, the Court of Appeals assessed that it had not been proven that the defendants had committed the criminal offense with which they were charged.