Kosovo government spokesperson and Self-Determination MP sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment each

Kosovo Government spokesperson Arlind Manxhuka and Self-Determination Movement MP Egzon Azemi have each been sentenced to one year and six months’ imprisonment for inciting division and intolerance, in a retrial before the Basic Court in Pristina, as reported by the portal Oath for Justice (Betimi për Drejtësi).

In the same case, Qerim Elshani and Edi Zenelaj were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of making threats.

Following the pronouncement of the judgment, Azemi stated on Facebook that he and Manxhuka had been convicted “without any evidence by an obsolete judicial system that releases Serbian terrorists.”

The retrial followed last year’s decision of the Court of Appeals to overturn the previous judgment—in that earlier ruling, Manxhuka had been acquitted, while Azemi, Elshani, and Zenelaj had each been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, the same source recalls.

According to the indictment filed in November 2023, Manxhuka and Azemi are charged with having, at the end of December 2022, used social media platforms to incite hatred and intolerance against Judge Mentor Bajraktari and Special Prosecutor Afrim Shefkiu.

The charges relate to their reactions following a decision to alter the detention measure imposed on former Kosovo police officer Dejan Pantić, who was suspected of organizing attacks against officials of the Central Election Commission in northern Kosovo.

The prosecution alleges that the two defendants, by virtue of their official positions, disseminated messages via social media that were capable of inciting violence, influencing the functioning of the judiciary, disturbing public order, and undermining the integrity of the judge and the prosecutor.

The parties have the right to file an appeal before the Court of Appeals within 30 days.