Arbër Krasniqi stated at the Basic Court in Prishtina that he did not illegally enter votes into the system for former minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla. His statement was given on Monday, during his defense in the trial for vote falsification in the 2021 elections.
In this case, besides Krasniqi, the accused include Përparim Përvatica, Ilirjan Hysenaj, and Sahit Mataj, reports “Betimi për Drejtësi”.
Të lidhura
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At the opening of the session, the presiding judge, Vesel Ismaili, announced that the composition of the trial panel had changed. Judge Ngadhnjim Arrni had been removed and replaced by judge Lutfi Shala. Ismaili also noted that more than six months had passed since the last session.
With the agreement of all parties, the trial panel decided that the statements and actions carried out earlier in this process be considered as read.
Speaking about his engagement at the Counting and Results Center (QNR), Krasniqi said he worked in a “data entry” position, not as part of the IT sector.
He denied having registered votes into the system contrary to the law. Regarding the identification card, namely the badge with the name “Arigon Beka”, Krasniqi said he received it from the center’s officials.
According to him, the use of this badge was due to delays and procedural obstacles in securing a new card in his name. He declared that QNR officials had suggested he use it, as obtaining another card required a lengthy procedure.
Krasniqi emphasized that he followed these instructions to begin work as a counter, without waiting for the completion of administrative procedures.
Regarding his relationship with Sahit Mataj, Krasniqi stated that Mataj worked in the same hall at the QNR and was the one who initially approached their table in a friendly manner.
He explained that Mataj would periodically move near his table and other tables, asking employees if they needed anything.
Concerning the meeting with Jetmir Bytyqi, Krasniqi said Mataj invited him to a meeting at a fuel station. According to him, Mataj had warned him that it concerned a suspected case of vote misuse.
“Sahiti informed me that he wanted to meet someone, in this case Jetmir,” Krasniqi expressed.
He said Mataj had told him that Bytyqi claimed his votes were being taken and that the purpose of the meeting was to create a scenario to make these suspicions public, with the goal of achieving a recount of the votes.
According to Krasniqi, on the way to the meeting place, Mataj was constantly on the phone with Bytyqi, informing him of their approach.
Krasniqi declared that he did not know Jetmir Bytyqi previously and that the introduction between them was made by Sahit Mataj after they sat at the table.
He said that Bytyqi, upon realizing Krasniqi worked at the QNR, had directly asked for benefits.
“Naturally, that was the nature of that meeting. He asked for benefits,” Krasniqi said.
The accused stated that money was mentioned during the conversation, but insisted that he himself did not benefit at all.
“Money was mentioned, but were benefits created or not for that money mentioned? I don’t know. Never from me,” the accused added.
According to his statement, the meeting lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Afterward, Krasniqi left with the vehicle he arrived in, while Mataj got into Bytyqi’s car.
Asked about the phrase “a very dirty structure”, used in previous statements, Krasniqi clarified that he meant the scenario he faced. He said this was not a characterization of Mataj, but of the situation that had arisen.
According to Krasniqi, the purpose of the arrangement by Jetmir Bytyqi was to publish a video recording to exert pressure for votes to be recounted, as Bytyqi suspected his votes were being stolen.
Krasniqi also said he had not observed any irregularity that would favor former minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla.
“At the table where I was counting votes, there was no vote theft at all,” he added.
After the video was published, Krasniqi stated that he called Mataj to ask him the reason for this act.
“You are clean and you don’t need to worry,” Krasniqi quoted Mataj as saying.
At the conclusion of his testimony, Krasniqi said he invites Mataj to tell the truth he knows, whatever it may be.
After Krasniqi’s defense, the session was interrupted at the request of lawyer Imer Beka, defender of Ilirjan Hysenaj. Beka informed the trial panel that he could not continue as he was feeling unwell.
On November 13, 2023, the Court had separated the criminal proceedings against Granit Halilaj and Dardan Gashi, as both had reached plea agreements.
For Halilaj, a judgment was issued on November 14, 2023, sentencing him to 1 year of suspended imprisonment for the criminal offense of falsifying voting results.
Meanwhile, Gashi was sentenced to 12 months of suspended imprisonment, on the condition that he not commit any other criminal offense within 12 months. He was also given a supplementary punishment of a 12-month ban from practicing his profession in public administration.
The judicial process continued against Shala, Krasniqi, Mataj, Përvatica, and Hysenaj. At the session on February 20, 2025, the Court separated the proceedings against former deputy Haxhi Shala, as he was being tried in another process at the Special Court in The Hague.
The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo filed an indictment on December 30, 2022, against former deputy Haxhi Shala, Arbër Krasniqi, Sahit Mataj, Përparim Përvatica, Ilirjan Hysenaj, Granit Halilaj, and Dardan Gashi. They are accused of falsifying voting results in the early elections for the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. According to the indictment, votes were added through falsification for former minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party, as well as for parliamentary candidate Haxhi Shala.
