Indictment against Sheholli, Rashiq reveals threats against associates: “I’m from BIA, come to Belgrade or it will be bad for you

Acting Minister for Communities and Return Nenad Rashiq has recounted the circumstances that made him an injured party in the case against Fatmir Sheholli, who has been charged by the Special Prosecution with “Espionage” and “Blackmail.”

According to Rashiq, on July 24, 2025, several of his associates at the ministry were called by a number from Serbia. The person on the other end of the line introduced himself as a member of Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA).

He said the associates were asked to go to Belgrade for a meeting, while threatening warnings were issued if they refused.

“This happened on July 24 last year. One day, in the afternoon, sometime around five or six o’clock, several of my associates at the ministry received calls from a number in Serbia. To paraphrase what they were told: I’m from BIA; we’re calling you for your own good, so that you come and talk to us, because otherwise it will be bad for you,” Rashiq said.

The minister said six of his associates were involved in the incident and later informed him about the calls.

“I told them that no one should go to Serbia, especially not to meet with them. I told them there was absolutely no chance,” he said.

According to Rashiq, the contact was repeated one day before the planned travel date. The associates were again asked whether they would go to Belgrade.

Since they did not respond, several video recordings were sent to them, allegedly containing compromising material.

“They showed me those recordings, and I told them: ‘Absolutely do not respond,’ because they could be fake, manipulated or edited,” Rashiq said.

He said the materials were later published on the “Pa Rrotulla” portal, around 20 to 30 days after these events.

Rashiq said he had reported the case to the police in the first days. He stressed that he sees a connection between the threats directed at his associates and the materials published later.

“Therefore, I believe there is a connection and that we were harmed by this,” Rashiq told Telegrafi.

In his testimony to the police, he also mentioned the nickname “Panta,” by which the person who called the associates had been identified.

The minister said these developments do not constitute an isolated case. According to him, periods preceding elections have consistently been accompanied by cyberattacks, attempts to recruit associates and threats.

“I repeat, this is not the first time. Especially when elections approach, every such process is accompanied not only by attacks of this kind and attempts to recruit or take our associates, but also by threats against various individuals, my family members, the family members of my associates and the associates themselves,” Rashiq said.

He described this as organized and ongoing activity which, he said, has continued for years.

“It is an entire system that is continuously dealing directly with us and waging a kind of special war against us. This has been going on for many years. As far as I remember, perhaps for 12 years, and I have consistently been their target,” Rashiq said.

The published case file of the Special Prosecution’s indictment against Fatmir Sheholli mentions audio materials and transcripts of conversations involving officials from the Ministry for Communities and Return. According to the prosecution’s claims, Sheholli received these materials on September 26, 2025, in North Mitrovica.

The prosecution claims that the materials were subsequently handed over to journalist Milaim Zeka, with the aim of having them published before the local elections.

Rashiq said he had not had any direct communication with Sheholli. Regarding Bojan Dimiq, whom the prosecution identifies as a senior BIA official, he said he knew him only as a figure he had known before the war.

He expressed his willingness to testify if the court summons him in this case.

“Absolutely. Not only me, but also my associates. In this case, I personally was not contacted directly, but my associates were. After all, I was the first to report the case,” Rashiq added.

The Special Prosecution has filed an indictment against Sheholli for the criminal offenses of “Espionage” and “Blackmail.” The indictment alleges that he acted in coordination with Serbia’s BIA and collected and passed on, among other things, information and materials about political developments and Kosovo’s institutions.

The first court hearing against Fatmir Sheholli has been scheduled for September 7, when the judicial examination of the case is expected to begin.