Endrit Nika’s retrial is expected to begin today at 9:30 a.m. at the Basic Court of Pristina.

Nika had previously been found guilty by the court and sentenced to 18 years in prison for the criminal offense of “aggravated murder” of his partner, Maria Clara Urdangaray.

According to the documentary, Maria Clara Urdangaray died at around 4:27 a.m. on August 1, 2023. Her death occurred approximately three hours after she fell from the window of the sixth floor of the “Sonoma” hotel in Fushë Kosovë, where she was staying with her boyfriend, Endrit Nika.

The prosecution claims that, during the blows and pushes, the victim ended up in the corner of the room with no possibility of escape, after which the window frame came loose and she fell outside.

Nika has denied touching Maria Clara Urdangaray, presenting a different account of what had happened. The window-frame examination was carried out only a year and a half later, when the hotel owner had replaced it with a new frame with three layers of glass, altering its previous structure.

At the end of August last year, the investigative program “MAT” on Klan Kosova published footage from cameras at the scene for the first time, as well as a number of other details related to the case.

The post Retrial of Endrit Nika over Maria Clara Urdangaray’s death begins today at the Basic Court appeared first on Albeu.com.

The Pristina Basic Court, specifically its Special Department, has announced that the initial hearing in criminal case PS No. 66/2023 will be held on September 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The hearing will take place in Building D of the Palace of Justice in Hajvali and will be presided over by the head of the trial panel, Violeta Namani-Hajra.

The case concerns the indictment filed by the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, PPS No. 60/2010, dated December 23, 2024, against the defendants Momir Stojanoviq, Sreten Çamoviq, Nikolla Miqunoviq, Millovan Kovaçeviq, Sergej Peroviq, Verolub Zhivkoviq, Millan Kotur, Radomir Çoliq, Danillo Zeçeviq, Dragutin Josifoviq, Franko Simatoviq, Momçillo Stanojeviq, Vllatko Vukoviq, Ilija Todorov, Stevo Kaponja, Dragan Zhivanoviq, Millosh Gjoshаn, Predrag Stojanoviq, Dimitrije Rashoviq, Millosh Shqepanoviq, Aleksandar Pekoviq, Zhivko Vuksanoviq, Millutin Novakoviq, Sokol Abazi, Novica Stankoviq, Misho Popoviq, Millan Noviqeviq, Nenad Rajiçeviq, Muharrem Ibraj, Millan Slavkoviq, Dragan Isailloviq, Sasha Antiq, Zllatko Odak, Savo Llekiq, Dragan Raciq, Milladin Novakoviq, Dragan Pekoviq, Njegosh Prashçeviq, Zoran Mirkoviq, Dushan Prashçeviq, Ranko Vukadinoviq, Momçillo Stijoviq, Dushan Nedoviq, Gjokica Mihajlloviq, Mirash Gegoviq, Aleksandar Miqunoviq, Llazar Drashkoviq, Mihill Abazi, Momçillo Novakoviq, Marko Abramoviq, Smajl Beqiri, Momçillo Pantiq and Predrag Miqunoviq.

They are accused of the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population, as provided for under Article 142, in conjunction with Article 22 of the Criminal Code of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Under current legislation, the offense is criminalized under Articles 144, 145, 146 and 147, in conjunction with Article 31 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

At the request of the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo, the court proceedings will be conducted in the absence of the defendants, as they had not been accessible up to the time the indictment was filed.

The court has called on the accused to appear and surrender to the law enforcement authorities of the Republic of Kosovo.

At the same time, anyone with important information about the whereabouts of the accused is invited to forward that information to the Kosovo Police or other competent institutions.

The indictment and the summonses for the hearing have been made available on the court’s website and in the Official Gazette.

The Pristina Basic Court said it would also inform the public about future developments related to this criminal case.

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Sokrat Vata’s testimony in the courtroom has been made public. He is accused of murdering 20-year-old Portuguese national Luis Miguel Varela Mendes in Ksamil.

Top Channel journalist Dorjana Bezat reports that Vata said he stabbed the victim in self-defense, claiming that it was the victim who approached him with a knife.

Before the court, Vata said that a group of French tourists were at the venue and were making noise.

According to Vata, his friend asked them to keep the noise down, but the tourists continued insulting them, after which a physical altercation began.

Vata claimed that during the confrontation, one of the tourists had a knife, which he took from him after subduing him. At that point, according to his testimony, one of the tourists kicked him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

He said that as the tourists attempted to hit him again, he moved his hand instinctively to protect himself, but does not remember how he struck the victim.

“I don’t remember how I struck him. I was in shock. I didn’t know whether any of them had been injured, because there were so many of them. I left because of the shock,” Vata said.

Meanwhile, Turkish national Nuh Mahmutoglu, who knew Vata through their work escorting tourists, said that Vata called him at around 06:30 and asked him to accompany him to Tirana, telling him that he had fallen off his motorcycle.

The other detainees also denied the allegations before the court, saying that they had not seen the moment of the altercation.

At the end of the hearing, the Sarandë court imposed detention in prison on Vata.

The same measure, “detention in prison,” was also imposed on Ezgi Parlak and Nuh Mahmutoglu, the two Turkish nationals who attempted to drive him away by car.

Ildi Cekani and Ardit Kasemi were remanded in custody for a period of 45 days, reports Top Channel correspondent Entjola Budo.

Meanwhile, Luciano Seferi, Moisi Matushaj, Romeo Shehu, Murat Zhabina and Kristo Kosho were ordered to report to the judicial police.

The post Murder of Portuguese tourist in Ksamil / Sokrat Vata’s testimony revealed: I don’t know how I struck him, he came straight at me and… appeared first on Albeu.com.

The Basic Court in Peja will hold today the retrial of Halil, Kastriot and Kreshnik Mehmetaj, who are accused of the triple murder that took place in Gllogjan in 2021.

The incident involved an armed attack on the Gjakovë–Deçan route bus, in which three people lost their lives.

The retrial hearing will be held at the Basic Court in Peja.

The post Retrial for Gllogjan Triple Murder Held Today appeared first on Albeu.com.

Meta is facing one of the most significant legal battles in its history. The company that owns Facebook and Instagram is at the center of a lawsuit in the US, where 29 American states accuse it of designing its platforms to keep children and teenagers on social media for as long as possible.

The trial in federal court in California is expected to have major consequences for how Meta’s platforms operate.

The states bringing the lawsuit claim that the company violated children’s data protection laws and misled users about the safety of its platforms.

If Meta loses the legal battle, the court could order significant changes to Facebook and Instagram. The measures being sought include age restrictions, the removal of the infinite scroll feature, changes to algorithms and other restrictions for young users.

The states are also seeking to prevent algorithms from using children’s data in ways that could negatively affect them.

The post If Meta Loses This Case, Instagram and Facebook Could Change Forever appeared first on Albeu.com.

The Kosovo Special Prosecution Office is questioning the third Serb detained a day earlier in the municipality of Zubin Potok as part of an investigation into war crimes.

Meanwhile, a hearing is being held to determine whether he should be remanded in custody, as he is suspected of committing the criminal offense of “War crimes against the civilian population.”

The suspect’s arrest followed an intensive investigation conducted by the Special Prosecution Office.

Excavations have begun in the village of Kalludër e Vogël in Zubin Potok amid suspicions that the bodies of 23 people known as the “group of intellectuals” from the Mitrovica region are buried there. They were abducted on April 19, 1999.

Even after 27 years, the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and their fate have not been fully clarified.

The post Detention Hearing Held for Serb Arrested in Zubin Potok appeared first on Albeu.com.

At the Basic Court of Prishtina, a preliminary hearing will be held today for the criminal case where 21 defendants face charges for crimes committed during the war against the civilian population.

The Special Department of this court has confirmed that the names appearing in the dock are: Zllatomir Peshiq, Mlladen Cirkoviq, Radomir Markoviq, Dushko Adamoviq, Obrad Stevanoviq, Zhivko Trajkoviq, Goran Radosavleviq, Bogolub Janiçqviq, Sllavisha Ivanoviq, Boshko Vukiqeviq, Sreten Popoviq, Nikolla Petroviq, Kërsman Jellliq, Lubisha Stojimiroviq, Bozhidar Deliq, Radojko Stefanoviq, Dragan Zhivanoviq, Milosh Gjoshan, Lubinko Cvetiq, Bozhidar Filiq and Milovan Kovaçeviq.

The charge brought against them is for the criminal offense “War crimes against the civilian population”.

According to the court’s official announcement, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo has requested that the proceedings be conducted in the absence of the defendants, since they have not been reachable up to the stage of filing the indictment.

Through a public statement, the Court has called on the accused to surrender voluntarily to the prosecuting authorities of the Republic of Kosovo.

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Two Serb defendants appeared today before the judicial panel at the Basic Court of Prishtina, charged in connection with the mass graves discovered yesterday in Zubin Potok.

Arbnora Luta, spokesperson for the Special Prosecution, stated that during this hearing a decision is expected on the pre-trial detention of the two suspects.

In the Kalludër area of Zubin Potok, on Tuesday, mortal remains and clothing were found, which authorities suspect belong to 23 missing intellectuals from the Mitrovica region.

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Today’s session for Laert Haxhiu, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of Zamir Latifi and Jurgen Hoxha, lasted for hours, while further evidence was revealed in today’s trial.

Known otherwise as “the strongman of Lushnjë”, Laert Haxhiu is accused of the following criminal offenses: “Premeditated murders”, “Attempted murders”, “Securing conditions to commit murder”, “Destruction of property with explosives”, “Illegal possession of weapons” and “Armed robbery”.

Among the witnesses who appeared in the courtroom today to testify, besides Leonard Bashaliu, who is Albi Bashaliu’s brother, was Sami Bashaliu, the cousin of the two brothers mentioned, journalist Elton QYno reports.

The latter arrived to give his testimony at the Special Court, as he was one of the main witnesses to the event of December 27, 2021, when Laert Haxhiu, in collaboration with Enriko Xhahysa, Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, organized the murder of Albi Bashaliu.

Sami Bashaliu is the owner of the bar where the victim (his cousin), after drinking his morning coffee, went outside and was then shot dead by Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, who ambushed him in the street.

The elimination of Albi Bashaliu was seen entirely by Sami Bashaliu, so the prosecutor Behar Dibra had summoned him to hear his testimony before the Special Court.

As the session for his cousin’s killer was taking place, after the prosecutor was unable to formulate questions about the event, the court intervened asking Sami Bashaliu to avoid getting stuck in his expression and to tell them who killed his cousin.

Continuing his testimony about his cousin’s murder, Sami revealed that the perpetrators were masked with COVID masks. Asked about the physical appearance of the perpetrators, Bashaliu emphasized that one was tall and the other short.

The full testimony of witness Sami Bashaliu, the victim Albi Bashaliu’s cousin, secured by Elton Qyno:

Behar Dibra: Has there ever been a murder near your bar?

Sami Bashaliu: A couple of days, two or three, before New Year’s. Some time ago…

The court intervenes with questions: Please tell us details…

Sami Bashaliu: There was a nice car, I went out and looked around but didn’t see anything. I went back inside and lit the stove to warm up, whoever came for coffee. The late Bashaliu, he came in to drink coffee and the moment he walked out of the bar, someone spoke to him and Bashaliu turned his head. We heard the gunshot. The guy who shot was tall and thin, but he had his head covered with a mask. He shot him. The guys who were inside the bar got scared and ran away. There was one person who shot, there were two of them but one stayed in the car.

The court: Please tell us more, what do you remember…

Sami Bashaliu: He came out, spoke to Bashaliu and shot him. The one who shot stayed there, Bashaliu fell to the ground. I saw this, but they gestured at me with their hand “…go inside, go inside…”. I didn’t make a sound. He took Bashaliu’s keys, his phone, left them there, didn’t touch them. The other one set fire to the car with gasoline and they left. You know, the state did its job…

The court: Don’t go “uh uh” like that, who killed these people? And the other one, did we find out who killed Leonard Bashaliu?

Behar Dibra: When did the late Albi Bashaliu last visit the bar?

Sami Bashaliu: The night before, and the next morning the incident happened. It was maybe 7 a.m.

Behar Dibra: Did you see him off from the bar?

Sami Bashaliu: No, why would I see him off? It was around 11 at night, something like that.

Behar Dibra: Do you know the people the victim was with?

Sami Bashaliu: He was with people from our clan, we’re a big clan.

Behar Dibra: After the incident, did this person, Henriko Xhahysa, still come to your bar?

Sami Bashaliu: No.

Av Detar Hysi: Did you go to the deceased’s funeral?

Sami Bashaliu: Yes, I went.

Av Detar Hysi: How are your relations today?

Sami Bashaliu: Very good.

The court: Regarding the physical description of the two people, do you remember any distinctive features? Do you remember these people?

Sami Bashaliu: There were two of them. The one who committed the murder was tall and thin, the other one a bit shorter. They had hats and COVID masks.

The court: Any particular feature?

Sami Bashaliu: No, I didn’t see.

The court: Prosecutor Behar Dibra, do you have any other questions?

Behar Dibra: If you had the chance to see the tall and thin one as you described him, would you be able to identify him? Would you say this one shot a gun?

Sami Bashaliu: I swear I can’t tell for sure.

The post The ‘Strongman of Lushnjë’ main suspect in Albi Bashaliu’s murder, victim’s cousin ‘freezes’ in session, court intervenes: Don’t go ‘uh uh’, say who killed him appeared first on Albeu.com.

Today’s session against Laert Haxhiu, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of Zamir Latifi and Jurgen Hoxha, lasted for hours, and further testimony emerged from today’s hearing.

Known as “the strongman of Lushnjë”, Laert Haxhiu is accused of the following criminal offenses: “Premeditated murders”, “Attempted murders”, “Providing conditions to commit murder”, “Destruction of property with explosives”, “Unlicensed possession of weapons” and “Armed robbery”.

Among the witnesses who appeared in the courtroom today to testify, in addition to Leonard Bashaliu, who is the brother of Albi Bashaliu, was Sami Bashaliu, the cousin of the duo in question, reports journalist Elton Qyno.

The latter arrived to give his testimony at the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, as he was one of the main witnesses to the events of December 27, 2021, when Laert Haxhiu, in collaboration with Enriko Xhahysa, Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, organized the murder of Albi Bashaliu.

Sami Bashaliu is the owner of the cafe where the victim (his cousin) had his morning coffee, then went outside and was shot dead by Artan Tafani and Lulzim Spahia, who ambushed him on the road.

The elimination of Albi Bashaliu was entirely witnessed by Sami Bashaliu, so the prosecution representative Behar Dibra had summoned him to hear his testimony before the Special Court.

As the session for his cousin’s killer was underway, when the prosecutor was unable to formulate questions about the event, the court intervened, asking Sami Bashaliu to avoid freezing up while speaking and to tell who killed his cousin.

Continuing with his testimony about his cousin’s murder, Sami revealed that the perpetrators wore COVID masks. Asked about the physical appearance of the perpetrators, Bashaliu stressed that one was tall and the other short.

The full testimony of the witness, Sami Bashaliu, cousin of the victim Albi Bashaliu, secured by Elton Qyno:

Behar Dibra: Has there ever been a murder near your cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: Two or three days before New Year’s. Some time ago…

The court intervenes with a question: Please tell us details…

Sami Bashaliu: There was a nice car, I went out and looked around but saw nothing. I went inside, lit the stove, to warm up whoever came for coffee. The late Bashaliu came in for coffee and the moment he left the cafe, someone spoke to him and Bashaliu turned his head. The sound of a gun was heard. That guy who shot was a tall, thin one, but he had his head covered with a mask. He shot him. The guys in the cafe got scared and ran. It was one person who shot, they were two but one stayed in the car.

Court: Please tell us more what you remember…

Sami Bashaliu: He came out, spoke to Bashaliu and shot him. The one who shot stayed there, Bashaliu fell to the ground. I saw this, but they motioned to me with their hand “go inside, go inside…”. I didn’t make a sound. He took Bashaliu’s keys, phone, left them there, didn’t move them. The other one set the car on fire with gasoline and they left. You know, the state did its job…

Court: Don’t hem and haw like that, who killed these people? And about the other one, was it found out who killed Leonard Bashaliu?

Behar Dibra: When did the late Albi Bashaliu last visit the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: The night before, the next day the incident happened. It was 7 o’clock maybe.

Behar Dibra: Did you see him off from the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: No, why should I, it was 11 at night or something like that.

Behar Dibra: Did you know the persons the victim hung out with?

Sami Bashaliu: He stayed with our own clan, because we are a large clan.

Behar Dibra: After the incident, did this Henriko Xhahysa come to the cafe?

Sami Bashaliu: No.

Av Detar Hysi: Did you go to the funeral of the deceased?

Sami Bashaliu: Yes, I went.

Av Detar Hysi: And today, how are your relations?

Sami Bashaliu: Very good.

Court: Regarding the physical description of the two persons, do you remember any characteristic of theirs? Do you remember these persons?

Sami Bashaliu: They were two. The one who committed the murder was tall and thin, the other a bit shorter. They had hats and COVID masks.

Court: Any particular element?

Sami Bashaliu: No, I didn’t see.

Court: Prosecutor Behar Dibra, do you have any other questions?

Behar Dibra: If you had the chance to see, as you describe, this tall and thin one, would you be able to describe him? Would you be able to say that he fired a gun?

Sami Bashaliu: By God, I can’t determine.

The post “The Strongman of Lushnjë” Main Suspect in Albi Bashaliu’s Murder, Victim’s Cousin “Freezes” in Court, Judge Intervenes: “Stop Hemming and Hawing, Tell Us Who Killed Him” appeared first on Albeu.com.