Murders of the Haklaj brothers: SPAK suspends investigation, their sister files appeal with the Special Court

SPAK has suspended the complaint filed by Aishe and Muharrem Haklaj against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and 15 other people in connection with the murders of the four Haklaj brothers: Halil, Shkëlqim, Fatmir and Ylli. The SPAK decision was communicated to Aishe and Muharrem Haklaj through their lawyer around 15 days ago.

Following the decision, they filed an appeal with the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, requesting that the investigation into the case continue. The appeal will be reviewed by Judge Etleva Deda, who will decide whether the investigation should continue or whether the decision to suspend the complaint will remain in force.

In April 2023, Aishe Haklaj, who returned from Sweden after several years, was questioned for around 12 hours by SPAK prosecutors in her capacity as the complainant. In her testimony, Haklaj accused Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha and 14 other people of involvement in the murders of her four brothers. The events took place in Tropojë during the 1997–1999 period.

The complaint filed with SPAK accuses Berisha and the other individuals of premeditated murder, the creation of and participation in an armed gang and criminal organization, the commission of criminal offenses as part of those groups, as well as terrorist acts.

Following the complaint filed in 2022 and a series of investigative actions, SPAK prosecutor Elida Kaçkini decided to suspend the investigation. The case materials will be sent to the State Police and other responsible institutions, with the aim of carrying out further investigative actions and securing the necessary evidence.

How did the series of murders among the men begin, forcing the “girl” to avenge her brothers?

The first murder took place on June 16, 1997, at the exit of the Milot Bridge. The victim was Sokol Haklaj, an assistant judge in the Skrapar district and the eldest of the Haklaj brothers. This is where the whole story began. Adding to the bloodshed involving the Haklajs, on January 5, 1998, Shkëlqim Haklaj, one of the family’s sons, was killed in an automatic weapons attack at Qafa e Luzhës. His older brother Fatmir vowed revenge and also handed in his police uniform. In September 1998, in central Tirana, Fatmir ambushed and killed Democratic Party MP Azem Hajdari. Following the murder, Fatmir also triggered a conflict between the political sides over the alleged “person who ordered” Azem’s killing. On August 4, 1999, Halil Haklaj and Feriz Kërrnaja were killed by remotely detonated mines near the village of Cernicë, while Fatmir Haklaj was seriously wounded.

He survived an attempt to kill him on November 4, 1999, in an ambush in the village of Bujan, just 50 meters from the home of his friend Jaho Salihi. On December 3, 2000, Ylli Haklaj was executed by a sniper. The last killing of members of the Haklaj family took place on May 8, 2002, near the hospital in Bajram Curri, where Elez Haklaj and his son, Çela, were killed. This was when the last “blood avenger” from the Haklaj family, Zylfia, entered the scene. In 2002, she killed Rasim Lumneshi and Ilir Gosturani in broad daylight in Tropojë.