Zogaj and Selimi released from pre-trial detention – Basic Court’s decision on the suspected attack against the Vetëvendosje MP

Fadil Zogaj and Ekrem Selimi will no longer remain in pre-trial detention, as the Basic Court in Prishtina has decided to terminate this measure against both of them, who are suspected of having attacked Vetëvendosje Movement MP Fahrush Rexhepi.

According to the suspicion, the defendants committed the criminal offense of “Attacking an official person in co-perpetration,” provided for in Article 402, paragraph 1, in connection with Article 31 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

The restriction of liberty had been imposed on both of them as a consequence of the incidents that were recorded during the course of the protest.

The court’s reasoning is based on the change in legal and factual circumstances: the protest has already ended, while the State Prosecutor has conducted the questioning of both defendants.

For these reasons, according to the assessment of the judicial institution, there is no longer a legal basis for continuing to keep them in pre-trial detention.

With this decision, Zogaj and Selimi are only having their pre-trial detention measure terminated, which does not mean either the closure of the criminal proceedings or a declaration of their innocence.