Speak Openly with Prosecution in the city of Prizren

Prizren, 24 June 2011– Movement FOL in cooperation with the State Chief Prosecutor, have conducted the debate in the municipality of Prizren, within the campaign “Prosecutions closer to the citizen”. Participants in these debates have been representatives of civil society, media, and representatives of political parties and citizens of these municipalities. The panel members present were the Chief Prosecutor of Kosovo, Mr. Ismet Kabashi, District Chief Prosecutor in Prizren, Mrs. Ervehe Gashi, Municipal Chief Prosecutor in Prizren, Mr. Enver Sokoli.

Petrit Zogaj of FOL Movement, thanking the participants said that “today is the third day and the fifth debate of Movement FOL in collaboration with the State Chief Prosecutor since we have began the campaign” Prosecutions closer to the citizen “, whereby the aim is that the public be informed for the performance and results of the state prosecution and other municipal and district prosecution”.

State Chief prosecutor, Mr. Kabashi said that “the purpose of this campaign is that the public be notified of the prosecution system, the prosecution’s activities and the results of the prosecutions on one hand and on the other hand to receive information and complaints from the public in order to improve the image and to raise the level of efficiency and transparency of the prosecution. “Also, according to the chief prosecutor there are normal preconditions that the prosecution be an independent institution, where the “finances of the prosecutors has improved significantly, the establishment and Prosecutorial Council powers and laws approved last year for the courts and prosecution.” In this context, according to him it should be taken into consideration that the prosecution has filed charges against 249 political commissioners who are suspected of abusing the electoral process last year. With the new law in 2013, the basic prosecution which will be established in Gjakova municipality which will include two municipalities currently under the District Court of Prizren, Rahovec Municipality and Malisheva Municipality, finished his speech, State Chief Prosecutor Mr. Ismet Kabashi.

The debate continued with the Prosecutor of Prizren District Prosecution, Mrs. Ervehe Gashi, who said: “This prosecution has six prosecutors and we may consider as a priority the new building of this prosecution which has advanced the work of Prizren District Prosecution.” Regarding the institutions that have filed criminal charges are the police, followed by citizens, Anti-Corruption Agency and the Tax Administration. Cases dealing with the corruption, have been priority of the district prosecution ” we have processed 13 cases, 10 of them have ended up in custody, 1 was dismissed and in two were ceased the investigations.”

Mr. Enver Sokoli, chief prosecutor in Prizren Municipal Prosecution said that “During 2010 we had around 3223 cases”. He said the priority of this prosecution has been fighting corruption, election commissioners” cases, and juvenile cases. According to him “there are 34 cases dealing with corruption only in 2011”.

After this, the discussion was opened to the participants and had questions and answers, between participants and panellists invited to this debate.