Sami Lushtaku Declares Innocence, Claims EULEX Unjustly Persecuted Him for Years

At the Basic Court of Prishtina, the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, together with Ismet Haxha, Rrustem Rukolli, Rexhep Xhota, Fatmir Mjaku, Skender Tahiri, Bajram Dibrani and Sheremet Jashari, are awaiting closing arguments in the trial where they are charged with organized crime and intimidation of protected witnesses within the “Drenica 1” case.

The court sessions are being held for points 16, 17 and 18 of the indictment, a part previously separated from the main proceedings, involving these eight defendants.

Prosecutor Florije Shamolli noted that the process has been prolonged due to several technical procedural errors, which slowed down the work of both the court and the prosecution.

She added that, faced with the defendants’ refusal to admit guilt, the Prosecution requested the examination of material evidence and the hearing of witnesses who, according to her, confirm the commission of the criminal offenses for which they are accused.

Lushtaku’s defense lawyer, Artan Qerkini, criticized the Prosecution for seeking to give credibility to a witness whose statement has undergone several changes. He warned that in his closing argument he will also focus on the issue of the detention measure and on the claims of influencing witnesses, questioning the possibility that a person isolated in detention, under strict EULEX supervision, could lead a group to exert pressure.

Meanwhile, Lushtaku called the evidence of prosecutor Shamolli unfounded and declared himself innocent, saying that for 13 years he has been facing persecution without arguments and without facts from EULEX.

He drew attention to his previous war crimes case, for which he was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and served 4 years before being declared innocent, and described the current indictment as a heavy burden without legal basis, inherited from EULEX. According to Lushtaku, witnesses F and C have never been direct witnesses against him and he stressed that he does not even know some of the co-defendants personally, mentioning that with Sheremet, although from the same town, he has not even shared a coffee.