In his testimony before the court, Fatmir Ademi, head of the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the Kosovo Agency for Forensics, explained that the DNA analysis related to the explosion in the “Ibër-Lepenc” canal was carried out entirely in the Pristina laboratory. According to him, only the final results were sent to Italy for an interpretation process.
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He gave these explanations during questioning by the defense lawyer of the accused, attorney Nebojsha Vllajiq.
The lawyer asked the witness why the local laboratory was unable to perform the interpretation itself, referring to earlier statements that mentioned a lack of methods for examining mixed DNA samples. He stressed that the prosecutor himself had noted the same obstacle and, as a result, the sample was sent to Italy.
Ademi replied that the laboratory work was not conducted abroad and that the Italian destination served only to provide a more accurate reading of the obtained data. “The entire expertise was carried out in our premises in Pristina; we sent the file to Italy only for interpretation, because we did not possess the necessary software for that specific phase,” he explained. He also added that even before the interpretation arrived from abroad, the local team had made a preliminary assessment of the DNA profiles, comparing the evidence from one of the testimonies with the profile of a person marked as S1.
Later in the session, the lawyer asked for clarification on what exactly was transported to Italy—physical samples or simply the analysis data. The witness confirmed: “It was precisely the results of our analyses that were sent abroad, to be interpreted by specialists who had the appropriate software.”
Regarding the origin of the genetic traces of the persons under investigation, Ademi provided details on the chain of custody of the evidence. He explained that all samples arrived at the laboratory through official channels, according to standard protocols for criminal cases. They were brought by the investigators, accompanied by the prosecutor’s order, and were not immediately handed over to the DNA department but were first registered in the specialized sector for the receipt and delivery of evidence.
“All steps are strict and well-defined,” Ademi stated. “The receipt-delivery section carefully checks the packaging and description of the evidence before it passes to us, and we re-verify it again before starting work.” He added that after completion, the final expert report goes to the prosecutor, while the entire working file is archived at the receipt-delivery division.
At another point in the questioning, the defense lawyer for the defendant Millosh Deloviq asked the witness whether it was correct that he had worked with about 50 samples for DNA analysis in this case, which Ademi briefly confirmed. He was then asked how many of these samples were collected directly at the crime scene. Trying to recall the figures, he replied that, in his opinion, a total of seven pieces of evidence were secured from the explosion site.
The lawyer’s next question focused on the direct link to one of the defendants. He wanted to know whether, out of these seven traces from the scene, at least one matched the genetic profile of Dragisha Viqentijeviq. The witness’s answer was categorical: “No, we had no match.”
We recall that according to the case file prepared by the Special Prosecution, it is suspected that on November 29, 2024, at around 6:50 p.m., the brothers Dragisha and Jovan Viqentijeviq placed an amount of explosive material in the segment of the “Ibër-Lepenc” canal located in the village of Varagë, Zubin Potok. This canal is a vital artery for the supply of drinking water and for the needs of the Kosovo Energy Corporation.
The indictment, signed by special prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu, describes that the brothers, together with several other still unidentified persons and after prior preparation, acted with the intent to seriously intimidate the population and undermine constitutional security. They are suspected of having placed about 20 kilograms of trinitrotoluene inside the canal, wrapped in a bag and tied with a rope to a concrete structure.
It is also stated that the explosive was activated by means of a slow-burning fuse, generating a powerful blast that severely damaged the canal structure. Consequently, the water supply to several northern and central municipalities was cut off, also endangering the electricity production process.
The Prosecution lists that the material damage caused to the “Ibër-Lepenc” enterprise amounts to 376,774 euros and 70 cents. As a result, the brothers are accused in co-perpetration of the criminal offenses “Endangering the constitutional order by destroying or damaging public installations and equipment” and “Committing a terrorist act,” in connection with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code.
In addition, they also face charges of illegal possession of weapons. During the raids carried out at their homes in Zubin Potok and in the village of Prevllak, law enforcement forces found a considerable arsenal of combat weaponry.
