Associate of the Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Heritage sentenced to 10 years in prison in Kosovo

The external research associate of the Institute for the Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of Albanians in Macedonia, Mehmet Prishtina, was sentenced in Pristina to 10 years in prison for organized crime, and the court also imposed a fine of 100,000 euros.

Verdict and charges

The Basic Court found Prishtina guilty of illegally acquiring state land estimated at around 36 million euros. The verdict states that the case involves more than 36 hectares of state land in Pristina and Gračanica, which were allegedly illegally transferred into private ownership through fraud and through unlawful court decisions, and then sold to new owners at prices ranging from 36 cents to 10 euros per square meter.

The indictment, filed in 2016 by a prosecutor from EULEX, covers criminal offenses such as organized crime, abuse of official position, money laundering, illegal issuance of court decisions and forgery of official documents.

In the same case Dukagjin Emerlaha and Nedžarije Hoti received eight years in prison each, while Avni Maksuni was sentenced to six years. The total prison sentences for the defendants amount to 32 years, and the total fines reach 230,000 euros.

In addition to the criminal charges, the proceedings included an allegation that Mehmet Prishtina falsely presented himself as a grandson of Hasan Prishtina. Relatives of Hasan Prishtina from Polac, in the municipality of Skenderaj, dispute that claim. Mehmet Prishtina was among those present at the unveiling of the monument to Hasan Prishtina on Skanderbeg Square in Skopje in 2012, during the centenary celebrations of Albania's independence, when he was presented as a family member and gave a speech.

With the verdict the Basic Court in Pristina confirmed the convictions and closed the criminal proceedings for the accused, with established prison sentences and financial obligations.

Photo: Screenshot / archive