The defendant Eqrem Avdullahu has pleaded guilty to the criminal offence of “threatening” Hysni Gucati, the head of the Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization (OVL-UÇK), at the Basic Court in Drenas.
Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the court approved it, while setting the announcement of the verdict for July 23, 2026, at 11:30 AM.
The lawyer representing the injured party, Hysni Gucati, Halim Shala, said that the guilty plea may be considered a mitigating circumstance, but according to him, it does not diminish the seriousness of the threat and the consequences caused by the case.
“Although the defendant has admitted guilt, he cannot minimize the sensitivity of this criminal offence, considering the authority of Gucati, who represents one of the most important institutions on which the Republic of Kosovo functions. The guilty plea can be accepted as a mitigating circumstance, but it cannot diminish the seriousness of the threat and the consequences it has caused for every KLA veteran, Gucati’s family members, and other citizens. In order to approve this guilty plea, we request that he explain more objectively who encouraged him to make such a degrading post. We cannot agree with accepting the guilty plea without receiving an answer. Did someone encourage him, or did he commit this act himself? After consultation, we give our consent for the guilty plea to be accepted at this stage of the proceedings,” he said.
Judge Shefqet Baleci said that the court approved the guilty plea, while the verdict will be announced at the next hearing.
“The guilty plea is approved. The court cannot announce the verdict today. The verdict will be announced on July 23, 2026, at 11:30 AM,” he said.
According to prosecutor Albiona Musaj, there is a well-founded suspicion that on June 3, 2026, at around 1:10 PM, Eqrem Avdullahu, through the social network Facebook, seriously threatened Hysni Gucati with the aim of causing fear and anxiety.
She said that a photo of Gucati was published on a Facebook page called “Diaspora në Krye” with the caption: “Prosecution investigates Hysni Gucati – received a salary for 19 years as a school secretary without going to work,” while later Avdullahu, from his personal Facebook account under the name “Eqrem Avdullahu,” commented: “This pig should be shot.”
According to the Prosecution, this comment caused fear, anxiety, and insecurity for the victim’s life, and the defendant is suspected of committing the criminal offence of “threatening.”
