Kosovo Mayors Shrug off Criminal Charges

Ten current or former mayors of Kosovo’s 31 municipalities have either been convicted of crimes or currently face criminal charges, a Pristina Insight analysis shows. A further 25 lower-ranking municipal officials elected during the last elections in 2009 also face criminal charges or have already been convicted. The two largest parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, and the Democratic League of Kosovo, will not say if those officials will run again in the forthcoming local elections. While not scheduled yet, Kosovo is required by law to hold local elections this fall. Only officials convicted of crimes face restrictions in running, as they are barred from elections for three years. Officials currently facing prosecution face no restrictions and none of them has stepped down. Albert Krasniqi, a researcher at the Kosovar Institute for Research and Political Development, KIPRED, said parties should be stricter about their candidates than the law requires. He believes that no official convicted of a crime should be allowed to return to office, while those being investigated or prosecuted should be suspended from office until their legal proceedings end. “It is also up to voters to punish those who have committed violations, through their votes,” Krasniqi said. Nearly half the local elected officials with legal troubles, 17, including nine mayors, are from the PDK. Blerand Stavileci, Minister of Agriculture and PDK spokesman, declined to say if any of the officials being prosecuted will seek re-election. “We cannot prejudge judicial processes,” he said. But Stavileci said that the ongoing prosecution of PDK officials is not hurting the party’s overall image. “I do not believe that voters form their opinions on a day-to-day basis,” he added. The LDK, which has six officials currently being prosecuted, has not decided if they should run for re-election, Arben Gashi, an MP and member of the LDK’s chairmanship, said: “If a LDK official has violated the law, he should be held accountable, himself.” Aida Derguti, vice-president of the opposition Vetevendosje [Self-Determination] party said the charges facing local officials are a reflection of what is happening on the national level. “The only difference are the million digits at the central level in comparison to those at the local level,” Derguti said, referring to cases of misappropriation of funds. Mayors and Their Legal Woes Bajrush Xhemajli, former mayor of Ferizaj, PDK. On November 26, 2010, he was convicted of causing a deadly car accident in Pristina. He was sentenced to 2 years 6 months in prison. He spent two years challenging the verdict and recently was granted a retrial. Xhabir Zharku, former mayor of Kacanik, PDK. Convicted of extortion in 2012 and sentenced to three years in prison. Currently a fugitive from the law. Ramadan Muja, mayor of Prizren, PDK. Accused of misusing state and municipal property, he has denied the charges. Sami Lushtaku, mayor of Skenderaj. Currently being prosecuted for war crimes, Lushtaku has denied the charges. In June, he and four others were found not guilty of waging a threatening media campaign against BIRN Kosovo director Jeta Xharra. Nexhat Demaku, mayor of Drenas, PDK. Accused of misusing his public office in connection with a property deal. Also accused in the case is Mehdi Kurrumeli, the director of the cadaster. Both men have denied the charges. Bajram Mulaku, mayor of Vushtri, PDK. Mulaku, two department heads, Sami Istrefi and Bajram Beqiri, and a municipal assembly member, Gani Imeri, are accused of misusing the municipal budget. Mulaku has denied the charges. Begzad Sinani, former mayor of Kamenica, PDK. Sinani is accused of misusing 178,000 euro during the 2009 municipal election campaign. Denies the charges. Nexhmedin Arifi, mayor of Viti, PDK. Accused of misuse of public office by dissolving a public sanitization company, Higjiena, and establishing a private company, Universal, in its place, against the wishes of the authorities in Pristina. Denies wrongdoing. Salim Jenuzi, mayor of Dragash, PDK. Accused of directing officials to illegally take a plot of 29.7 hectares belonging to a state-owned enterprise. Lulzim Rifaj, head of the municipal assembly, is also accused in the case. Both officials have denied the charges. Sami Hamiti, head of the municipal assembly of Pristina, LDK. Accused of extortion and other corruption-related charges. He and other officials are accused of acting illegally in paying more than 800,000 euro to a Prizren company for a tender. All have denied the charges. Shaip Surdulli, mayor of Kamenica, LDK. Being investigated on suspicion misusing his public office in granting a 155,700 euro tender for a Kosovo Liberation Army cemetery. Denies the allegations. Sali Asllanaj, former mayor of Suhareka, now a member of parliament, LDK. Accused of illegally giving public land for the Ben-Af company. Denies the charges.