Court of Appeals acquits Agim Çeku and everyone involved in the “Veterans” case

The Court of Appeals of Kosovo has overturned the first-instance ruling in the “Veterans” case, acquitting Agim Çeku and nine former members of the Government Commission for the Verification of Veterans. The acquittals of Nuredin Lushtaku and Smajl Elezaj have also been upheld.

The Appeals Special Department’s criminal panel accepted the defense appeals and amended the judgment of 12 September 2025. Under that ruling, the ten defendants had been found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison each.

Those acquitted are Agim Çeku, Sadik Halitjaha, Shkumbin Demaliaj, Qelë Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Rrustem Berisha, Faik Fazliu, Fadil Shurdhaj and Xhavit Jashari.

According to the Appeals Court’s assessment, it was not proven that the defendants had committed the criminal offense of abuse of official position or authority in co-perpetration.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal of Nuredin Lushtaku and Smajl Elezaj was rejected as unfounded. Both had been acquitted of the charges at the first-instance proceedings.

With this ruling, all 12 people who were part of this case have been acquitted. The decision was reported on 11 September, while the Appeals Court judgment is dated 9 September 2026.

Prosecution sought harsher sentences

The Special Prosecution had requested that Nuredin Lushtaku and Smajl Elezaj be found guilty, as well as that the sentences of the ten other defendants who had been convicted at first instance be increased.

However, the Appeals Court ruled otherwise. The Prosecution’s appeal concerning the acquittal was dismissed, while the request for harsher sentences became moot after the acquittal was issued.

The costs of the criminal proceedings will be paid from budget funds. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was instructed to pursue any potential property-related claim through civil litigation.

What were they accused of?

The 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 authority or failed to perform their official duties, enabling other individuals to obtain veteran status in violation of the law.

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

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