Delevic: Kurtaj charged with creating general danger

Lawyer Milos Delevic, the representative of Stefan Stojanovic, who was injured in Gotovusa on Christmas Eve last year, told Kosovo Online that the main hearing in the case against Azem Kurtaj, a member of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), began today. Kurtaj is charged with creating general danger.

"Today marked the start of the main trial in the case against Azem Kurtaj, who on January 6, Christmas Eve, injured two Serbian youths—a child aged 11 and a young man aged 21. Opening statements were delivered by the prosecution, defense, and representatives of the injured parties. Kurtaj has been defending himself while at liberty for over a year without any restrictions. However, this is not the main issue. The biggest issue is the indictment by the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Urosevac, which charges Kurtaj with the least severe criminal offense based on the facts of the case. He is charged with creating general danger, for which the prescribed penalty ranges from six months to five years in prison," Delevic stated.

He explained that he had repeatedly suggested to the state prosecutor to amend the indictment in terms of the legal classification of the offense and to charge Kurtaj with the only appropriate offense—attempted aggravated murder—given that he fired at a minor child.

"The prosecutor has remained silent on this indictment, which I believe to be unlawful. I filed a complaint against the acting prosecutor with the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council and received no response. I also complained to EULEX, which replied that they would monitor the trial. It raises a question: as someone who defends clients in other cases, how is it possible that someone allegedly throwing a stun grenade at CEC premises faces a criminal charge with a minimum sentence of five years and up to 25 years in prison, while someone who injured a child and a young man is charged with an offense carrying a maximum sentence of five years and a minimum of six months?" he emphasized.

Since Kurtaj did not admit guilt even for this lesser offense, Delevic stated that the proceedings in the case will continue. The injured parties and proposed witnesses will be heard, with the trial set to resume on January 22 and 23.