Go to Nazmi”: What role does Hashim Thaçi’s brother play in the case against Fatmir Sheholli?

Fatmir Sheholli is suspected of directing his two sons, Alor and Imer Sheholli, even from pretrial detention, in an attempt to blackmail businessman Arben Jetullahu.

According to the Special Prosecution’s case file, obtained by Paparaci, the pressure on the businessman from Podujeva began as early as 2022.

Sheholli is suspected of possessing an audio recording involving Jetullahu which, according to him, could damage the honor and reputation of the construction businessman.

He demanded 13,000 euros for publishing the recording. If the businessman did not pay, Sheholli warned that the audio would be sent to the media.

Communication with Jetullahu took place indirectly, during visits by Sheholli’s wife and two sons to the Gjilan Detention Center. From there, he instructed Alor and Imer to contact the businessman through a person named “Lorik.”

In a recorded conversation, Fatmir asks his sons to call Lorik and not to neglect the matter:

Fatmir: You have to call them, hey. Call Lorik… keep calling, don’t leave this matter like that… Because when I was out too… that’s how it was, because that’s how they are… You have to do it like that.

Imer: All right, I’ll do it. Today he told me that they would meet today, because he wasn’t around here.

Alor: Dad, I’m telling you, put a little pressure on him, he’s saying I don’t…

Fatmir: All right… and tell him that you have a video, say that you sent it to him once and that you blackmailed him, say… Dad, say, Arben knows how he blackmailed Fatmir, when he brought me a video to show me, he knows who gave it to him… Say he hasn’t spoken about this matter, but if he talks, tell him, you should know that this matter is serious…

The conversation was recorded in December 2025, during a visit by Sheholli’s wife and two sons to the Gjilan Detention Center.

During another visit, held in January 2026, Sheholli asks Imer to go to a person he calls “Nazmi” and describes as “Hashim’s brother.” The case file suggests that this person is Nazmi Thaçi, the brother of former President Hashim Thaçi.

The prosecution document shows that the purpose of the meeting was to deliver a message to businessman Arben Jetullahu. According to information obtained by Paparaci, Idriz Thaçi, the former president’s other brother, is Jetullahu’s business partner in a company in Montenegro.

The conversation between Sheholli and his son continues as follows:

Fatmir: Has Lorik contacted you?

Imer: No.

Fatmir: Listen to me, go to Nazmi.

Imer: Who is Nazmi?

Fatmir: Hashim’s brother.

Imer: Where is he?

Fatmir: Across from his house over there, across the way in Caglavica.

Imer: Yeah?

Fatmir: And call Arben on the phone and tell him, look, don’t leave the boy like this, like that. He hasn’t contacted you until now, and he has started to… (inaudible). Do you understand?

Imer: Done.

Fatmir: Right across from there, just go.

Alor: I know where his house is.

Fatmir: Then go outside somewhere with him and tell him… because someone might be following you or something.

However, the Special Prosecution’s case file contains no information confirming whether Sheholli’s sons actually met with the person “Nazmi,” whom Fatmir identifies as “Hashim’s brother.”

Fatmir Sheholli is facing two charges: espionage and blackmail.

The Special Prosecution accuses him of espionage in favor of Serbia’s BIA, as well as blackmailing businessman Arben Jetullahu.