The Tirana Court has ordered Turkish activist Julide Yazici, who was arrested at Rinas International Airport following a request by the Turkish authorities for her extradition, to be held in custody.

The 32-year-old was wanted internationally after an Istanbul court sentenced her to 4 years and 2 months in prison for the criminal offenses of “Providing logistical assistance to a terrorist organization” and “Participation in terrorist groups.”

Yazici was detained by Albanian police upon arriving at Rinas Airport while traveling from France.

She is reported to have been granted political asylum in France, arguing that she was at risk in Turkey because of the criminal prosecution and sentence imposed on her.

After reviewing the request submitted by the Turkish authorities, the Tirana Court decided to keep her in custody, while proceedings to consider the extradition request continue in accordance with the law.

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At the conclusion of the retrial, the Basic Court in Pristina sentenced Avni Lajqi to 5 years in prison for planning the murder of Musa Demaj (Loshi). However, he was acquitted of the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.

The verdict was announced on Wednesday by the trial panel, composed of presiding judge Vesel Ismaili and judges Kujtim Krasniqi and Donikë Shala-Abdyli, “Betimi për Drejtësi” reported.

According to Judge Ismaili, there was insufficient evidence to support the defendant’s guilt on the charge of unauthorized possession of a weapon, and he was therefore acquitted on that count of the indictment.

The judge also explained that the time Lajqi has spent in detention will be deducted from his final prison sentence.

The defendant was also ordered to pay court costs: 100 euros as a flat fee and a further 100 euros to the Crime Victim Compensation Fund.

Egzon Hasangjekaj is also named as a defendant in this criminal case, but the proceedings against him are being conducted separately. This is because the authorities were only able to arrest him in May 2026, as he had remained beyond the reach of justice until then.

At the hearing on April 14, 2026, prosecutor Habibe Salihu changed the legal classification of the charge. She reclassified it from “Agreement to Commit a Criminal Offense” under Article 35, paragraph 1, to “Preparation of the Criminal Offense of Aggravated Murder,” citing Article 173, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1.6, in conjunction with other relevant provisions of the Criminal Code.

The case has a prior judicial history. On September 25, 2025, the same court found Avni Lajqi guilty and sentenced him to 5 years in prison and a fine of 2,500 euros for unauthorized possession of a weapon. However, on January 28, 2026, the Court of Appeals sent the case back for retrial after finding substantial violations of criminal procedure rules.

Meanwhile, defendant Brahim Berisha had pleaded guilty to the charges against him. In his case, the prosecutor withdrew the charge of preparing to commit “Aggravated Murder,” prompting the court to dismiss that count of the indictment. Ultimately, Berisha was convicted only of unauthorized possession of a weapon and fined 500 euros.

The indictment filed by the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, dated January 22, 2025, states that Avni Lajqi and Brahim Berisha acted on the instructions of defendant Egzon Hasangjekaj. The alleged motive was a feud stemming from a conflict in America in 2021 between Hasangjekaj and the injured party, Musa Demaj (Loshi), and a desire to take revenge against him.

According to the prosecution’s allegations, Avni Lajqi, motivated by a payment of 100,000 euros, reached an agreement with Brahim Berisha under which Berisha would kill Musa for 70,000 euros. Berisha agreed and was instructed by Lajqi on the details of the crime, including the method, timing and appropriate location.

The indictment also states that Avni Lajqi had undertaken to guarantee payment if defendant Egzon failed to fulfill the financial obligation for the murder. They had also secured the weapon to be used in the crime, which was already in Brahim Berisha’s possession. The plan was thwarted after the Kosovo Police seized the weapon on February 20, 2024. After the attempt against Musa failed, defendant Egzon urged that his brother, Hekuran, be killed instead, or that both brothers be killed together if they were found in the same place.

For these actions, the defendants are jointly charged with the criminal offense of “Preparation of the Criminal Offense of Aggravated Murder” under Article 173, as well as criminal conspiracy under the relevant provisions of the Kosovo Criminal Code.

The indictment further states that on March 28, 2024, during a search of Avni Lajqi’s residence, a cartridge and other weapons were found in his possession without authorization and in violation of the Law on Weapons. He was therefore charged with the criminal offense of “Unauthorized Ownership, Control or Possession of Weapons” under Article 366, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code.

During a search of Brahim Berisha’s home, an automatic weapon was also found, along with two magazines and 20 cartridges, all held without authorization. He faces the same criminal charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.

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Shpend Ahmeti, the former mayor of the capital, has been found guilty by the justice authorities for the criminal offense of failing to declare assets.

The Basic Court in Pristina issued the verdict today, sentencing him to two years in prison and a fine of 5,000 euros.

According to the announced verdict, the former mayor was found guilty of the criminal offense related to concealing assets, imposing a prison sentence and a financial penalty on him.

The case concerns an amount of 172,600 euros that was not declared.

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Eqrem Avdullahu from Rahovec has been sentenced by the Basic Court in Drenas to 4 months in prison for the criminal offense of “threatening” Hysni Gucati, chairman of the KLA War Veterans’ Organization.

During the final hearing, the judge announced that the defendant had also been ordered to pay a total of 70 euros. The parties have the right to appeal the decision.

The prosecution claims that the threat against Gucati was made via the social network Facebook.

The indictment states that there is a well-founded suspicion that on June 3, 2026, at approximately 13:10, Avdullahu seriously threatened Hysni Gucati from his Facebook account, causing him fear, anxiety and concern for his life.

The case concerns a photograph of Gucati published on the “Diaspora në Krye” Facebook page, accompanied by the caption: “Prosecution investigates Hysni Gucati – received a salary for 19 years as a school secretary without going to work.”

According to the prosecution, following the post, the defendant wrote from his personal profile under the name “Eqrem Avdullahu” the comment: “This pig should be shot.”

The sentence imposed is 4 months in prison, while the specified amounts are 50 euros and 20 euros.

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The lawyer of the life-sentenced inmate, Laert Haxhiu, has reacted after media reports that his client was found with a cellphone during a surprise search at the Drenovë Penitentiary.

Through a statement, Haxhiu’s defense lawyer rejects the claims of prison authorities, calling the news inaccurate and guaranteeing that no prohibited item was found in his cell.

“As the legal defender of citizen Laert Haxhiu, I feel it is my professional duty to clarify that no illegal item was found on this citizen in his room,” the lawyer stated.

The post Reported Cellphone Found in Prison Cell, Laert Haxhiu’s Lawyer Denies: No Illegal Items appeared first on Albeu.com.

The facility in question will be used for prisoners coming from the Kingdom of Denmark.

The Chamber of Advocates has announced that it has been informed by the Kosovo Correctional Service about the start of the process to close this center, as well as the relocation of the people who had been held there to other correctional institutions.

“The Kosovo Chamber of Advocates has been officially notified by the Kosovo Correctional Service that the process of closing the Gjilan Detention Center has begun, within the framework of implementing the treaty between the Republic of Kosovo and the Kingdom of Denmark on the use of this facility for the execution of sentences imposed by the Danish authorities. According to the official notification, the gradual transfer of persons deprived of liberty from the Gjilan Detention Center to other correctional institutions has already begun, a process that will be carried out in phases, in accordance with security assessments, accommodation capacities, and the operational needs of the Kosovo Correctional Service,” the statement said.

In 2022, Kosovo and Denmark signed a 10-year agreement on the transfer of prisoners from the Nordic state. Under it, Denmark will lease 300 prison cells in Gjilan, while Kosovo will benefit by more than 200 million euros.

The agreement stipulates that the prisoners to be sent from Denmark to Kosovo must not have been convicted of serious crimes, must not have sentences longer than 10 years, and must not have mental health problems.

This plan has faced opposition in Denmark and was suspended for a period due to allegations of human rights violations.

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According to it, the facility in Gjilan will be used as part of the agreement concerning prisoners from the Kingdom of Denmark.

“The Kosovo Chamber of Advocates has been officially informed by the Kosovo Correctional Service that the process of closing the Detention Center in Gjilan has begun, as part of the implementation of the treaty between the Republic of Kosovo and the Kingdom of Denmark on the use of this facility for the execution of sentences handed down by the Danish authorities. According to the official notice, the gradual transfer of persons deprived of liberty from the Detention Center in Gjilan to other correctional institutions has already begun, a process that will be carried out in phases, in line with security assessments, accommodation capacities and the operational needs of the Kosovo Correctional Service,” the statement said.

The Chamber of Advocates clarified that it is issuing this notice in order to inform the legal community in a timely manner and to help facilitate communication with clients during the transition period.

In 2022, Kosovo and Denmark signed a 10-year agreement on the transfer of prisoners from the Nordic state. The agreement stipulates that Denmark will rent 300 prison cells in Gjilan, while Kosovo will benefit by more than 200 million euros.

Also under the agreement, prisoners convicted of serious crimes, with sentences of more than 10 years, as well as people with mental health problems, will not be transferred to Kosovo.

This plan has faced opposition in Denmark and was also suspended for a period following claims of human rights violations.

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According to the verdict announced today, Dragusha was sentenced to one year in prison on the first count of the indictment, while on the other three counts he received eight months in prison for each.

During the announcement of the decision, it was stated: “The Court, based on Article 76 of the Criminal Code, imposes on the defendant a unified sentence of imprisonment for a duration of 2 (two) years, which sentence shall be executed within 15 days from the date this judgment becomes final.”

The verdict also obliges him to cover the costs of the criminal proceedings, specifically 100 euros in court fees and 100 euros for the crime victims compensation fund.

The court also instructed the State Advocacy Office to pursue the property-related legal claim in regular civil proceedings.

Dragusha had entered into a plea agreement with the Special Prosecution, an agreement that the Court had approved at the hearing of February 7, 2025.

The post Ymer Dragusha sentenced to 2 years in prison for abuse of official position in the KEK case appeared first on Albeu.com.

The Appeals Court approved the decision dated April 14, 2026, which had imposed the security measure of “arrest in prison,” as well as the decision dated June 6, 2026, which had ordered the continuation of this measure.

In this way, the Court of Appeal rejected the requests of Aleks Pepa and I.L., ruling that they must continue to remain in pretrial detention.

Decision:

The post Previously convicted over the theft of money in Rinas, the Special Appeals Court upholds the “prison arrest” measure for Aleks Pepa appeared first on Albeu.com.

The inspection actions were concentrated on the third floor, sector 1, after an inmate became involved in a verbal conflict with his cellmate.

During the search of the room, authorities found a black iPhone, along with its charger.

According to sources close to the Internal Control Service who spoke to Anila Hoxha, there are suspicions that the phone belongs to convicted inmate Elton Meta.

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