Fehim Sali, who was arrested last week at the Merdare border crossing on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of “espionage,” will remain in pretrial detention for one month.
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The decision was made on Friday by the Basic Court in Pristina, which determined that the measure against him would remain in force until September 13, 2026.
According to the allegations, Sali continuously provided information and assistance to Serbia’s Intelligence Agency (BIA) in exchange for material gain.
The court justified the detention on the grounds that the suspect might flee, exert influence over witnesses or evidence, or repeat or continue the activity being investigated.
“The pretrial judge has ordered detention for defendant F.S. for a period of one (1) month, calculated from the date of his arrest, August 13, 2026, and lasting until September 13, 2026,” the court said in a statement.
The judicial institution assessed that, at this stage, there is a grounded suspicion of the criminal offense under investigation and that the legal requirements for imposing the detention measure have been met.
Security experts believe the case should be handled with heightened care and that the investigation should not focus solely on the arrested person. According to them, his contacts, communications and possible connections should also be examined.
According to the experts, the responsible institutions should analyze every piece of information that could indicate the existence of other structures or accomplices. The entire process should be conducted professionally, in accordance with the law and on the basis of evidence.
Prof. Dr. Muhamet Racaj, a retired major general, told “Bota sot” that the case of Fehim Sali should be treated seriously, while at the same time respecting the presumption of innocence.
“The case of Fehim Sali, whom the Basic Court in Pristina has remanded in custody for one month on suspicion of espionage, must be treated with particular seriousness by the security and justice institutions. At this stage, the principle of the presumption of innocence must be fully respected, since these are suspicions that still need to be proven through investigations and judicial proceedings, whether he acted as an individual or within a cell,” Racaj said.
He stressed that the nature of the suspicion makes the matter particularly sensitive to national security. According to Racaj, espionage may involve not only the gathering of information, but also infiltration of institutions, obtaining classified data, exposing institutional weaknesses and building channels of influence in the interests of a foreign state or structure.
The expert called for the investigation to extend to all of the suspect’s possible contacts, communications and connections.
“The court’s reasoning regarding the risk of influencing witnesses and evidence, as well as the possibility of repeating or continuing the criminal offense, is particularly significant from a counterintelligence perspective. These elements show that the investigation must be careful, comprehensive and focused not only on individual actions, but also on contacts, communications, sources of information and any possible organizational links,” Racaj said.
According to him, if the suspicions are confirmed, the consequences for Kosovo could be serious. Such activity could affect classified information, defense capabilities, state institutions and strategic decision-making processes.
Racaj added that, amid hybrid warfare, espionage may be accompanied by disinformation, political influence, economic pressure and cyber operations.
He stressed that the investigation should not stop with the suspected individual if information about other people or possible connections emerges during the process.
“For this reason, it would not be sufficient for the investigation to be limited only to the suspected individual. If indications of other contacts or accomplices emerge during the investigation, the competent institutions should investigate whether this is an isolated activity or part of a broader network. Modern counterintelligence aims precisely to uncover not only the ‘person,’ but also the structure, purpose, communication channels and possible beneficiary of the information,” he said.
Racaj said Kosovo should adopt zero tolerance toward any form of espionage, without abandoning a professional, legal and evidence-based approach.
“If these suspicions are confirmed, the case should be viewed as a national security issue and not merely as an individual criminal case. The security institutions must analyze whether other links exist behind it and whether the suspected activity is part of a broader operation against the interests of the Republic of Kosovo,” Racaj concluded in comments to “Bota sot.”
Jurist Blerim Burjani has also raised concerns about the possibility that networks operating against Kosovo may exist. In a statement to “Bota sot,” he stressed that, 26 years after the end of the war, the country still does not have a Lustration Law.
Burjani said the institutions continue to face individuals suspected of hostile activities against the state.
“There may be a network, because Kosovo is facing security problems and threats in many situations. Kosovo still does not have a Lustration Law either,” he said.
The jurist also questioned the lack of sufficient measures over the years against people suspected of such activities.
“Twenty-six years after the war, Kosovo continues to confront many people suspected of hostile activities against it, but so far there has been no restraining measure against many figures who have managed to operate within its institutions,” Burjani said.
According to him, the problem is not related only to particular individuals, but also to the possibility that structures and networks engaged in actions against Kosovo may exist.
“Therefore, Kosovo is confronting individuals alone, but not the structures and networks that may exist and that undertake actions against Kosovo,” Burjani concluded in comments to “Bota sot.”
