State Chief Prosecutor candidates interviewed today, Evaluation Panel prepares questions under observers’ supervision

Today, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) is holding the interview process for candidates seeking the post of State Chief Prosecutor, scheduled to take place on July 1, 2026.

There are five names in this race: Atdhe Dema, Naim Abazi, Rafet Halimi, Shqipdon Fazliu and Zejnullah Gashi.

According to the KPC’s announcement, the Evaluation Panel for the appointment of the State Chief Prosecutor, led by Arian Gashi and also composed of Visar Krasniqi and Elza Bajrami-Kastrati, has begun preparing the standard interview questions in the presence of local and international observers, “Oath for Justice” reports.

“In accordance with the procedures set for carrying out this process, three hours before the start of the interviews, the Evaluation Panel is preparing the standard questions in the presence of observers from international partners and civil society organizations, with the aim of guaranteeing the transparency and credibility of the process,” the announcement said.

The KPC said the interviews will begin at 11:00. At the same time, the chair of the Evaluation Panel and also the chair of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Arian Gashi, declared that the entire process will be conducted with full transparency, objectivity and professionalism, guaranteeing equal treatment for each candidate.

“The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council will continue to inform the public and the media in real time about the progress of the State Chief Prosecutor appointment process, while guaranteeing respect for the principles of legality, meritocracy, transparency and institutional integrity,” the announcement said.

According to the agenda approved by the Council, Atdhe Dema will be the first to be interviewed, followed by Naim Abazi, Rafet Halimi, Shqipdon Fazliu and Zejnullah Gashi.

“All interested parties are informed to comply with all the rules and schedules set by the KPC and, with understanding, are asked, due to limited space, to confirm the name of one representative/observer by contacting the Office for Public Communication at: [email protected] by June 26, 2026. Meeting of the Evaluation Panel for drafting the standard questions (three hours before the start of the interviews) 08:00.

Mr. Atdhe Dema from 11:00

BREAK 12:00-13:00

Mr. Naim Abazi from 13:00

Mr. Rafet Halimi from 14:15

Mr. Shqipdon Fazliu from 15:30

Mr. Zejnulla Gashi from 16:45,” the KPC announced a few days earlier.

On June 19, 2026, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC), with 6 votes in favor and 1 against, approved the candidacies of the five candidates who entered the race for State Chief Prosecutor.

According to the established criteria, the candidates who applied for this position and who meet the requirements are:

Atdhe Dema – Prosecutor in the Department for the Investigation of Terrorism at the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo,

Naim Abazi – Prosecutor in the Department for the Investigation of Corruption and Financial Crime at the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo,

Rafet Halimi – Prosecutor in the Department for the Investigation of Corruption and Financial Crime at the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo,

Shqipdon Fazliu – Prosecutor in the Office of the State Chief Prosecutor,

Zejnullah Gashi – Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Prishtina.

“Oath for Justice” had reported on these five candidates one day after the closing of the competition, on June 11, 2026.

It is worth recalling that the decision to open the competition for State Chief Prosecutor was taken at the meeting of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council on May 18, 2026.

After the competition was announced, the chief prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, Blerim Isufaj, filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court requesting a security measure and seeking the suspension of the competition announced by the KPC, but this request was rejected by the Administrative Court. That decision was later also upheld by the Court of Appeals.