The preliminary hearing against Serbian List Deputy Slavko Simiq and Urosh Vukasinoviq, who are accused of inciting protesters to attack Albanian journalists during tensions in Leposaviq on June 16, 2023, was postponed due to the absence of case files for the accused Slavko Simiq and his defense attorney.

In addition to the two accused, the hearing was attended by the victims, Dorentina Thaçi, Bardh Bekteshi, Leonard Berisha, Bashkim Gjikolli, Albin Rrahmani, and Arton Rama, while Laura Kerolli, Ardian Shala, Saranda Ramaj, Qëndresa Sinani, and Enea Mehmeti were absent.

After informing the accused of their rights, the presiding judge, Shqipe Sejdiu, stated that Simiq’s lawyer had submitted a note before the hearing stating that they had not received the case files. The judge then requested clarification from the prosecutor of the case, Ajtene Zoni, who said that they had called Simiq’s lawyer to collect the case files, but he did not respond.

"The prosecution called the lawyer Dejan Vasiq several times by phone to come and collect the case files at the prosecution, but he did not come. The reason why the prosecution did not know and could not forward it is that the same person has been called several times. Since he did not collect the files, I brought them with me today to show that they are ready. We also have the delivery note prepared, which includes all the case documents including CDs. We also informed the lawyer Nebojsha Vllahiq, who came and collected the case files, and we also have the receipt," she said.

Simiq’s lawyer, Dejan Vasiq, said that he had never been contacted by the prosecution to collect the case files.

"The prosecution never called me to go and collect the case files, never. As for why they did not send them by post—the post works; and third, regarding the files intended for me, look at the prosecution’s documents, look at your documents, and tell us if all case files are there. I have no problem reviewing these files and showing you whether they are complete," he said.

Even though the case files were received, the lawyer of the accused Urosh Vukasinoviq, Nebojsha Vllahiq, claimed that the documentation was not complete.

"I have reviewed this documentation; not even one-third is complete. In the indictment, 12–13 victims are mentioned as evidence, but I only received two statements, and they are in Albanian. I also have not received the medical reports for three persons," he said.

After hearing the parties, Judge Shqipe Sejdiu announced that, due to the circumstances, today’s preliminary hearing is postponed to October 9 at 13:30.

After the conclusion of the hearing, the defense of the victims in the case of the attack on journalists during the tensions in Leposaviq in June 2023 also expressed complaints against the prosecution.

The lawyer of RTK cameraman Bardh Bekteshi, Musa Damati, said that the failure of today’s hearing due to missing case files was a spectacle.

"I think it is a spectacle, and this spectacle could have been easily avoided with some preparations arranged by the court to ensure that today’s hearing would not fail," he said.

Meanwhile, the lawyer of the journalist Pleurat Salihu, Gazmend Halilaj, said that the failure to provide the parties with the case files shows that the prosecution failed in this judicial case. He also announced disciplinary measures against the prosecutor in this case.

"I express my deep disappointment with the state prosecution because even after two years and three months, they have not been able to fulfill a legal obligation. They have not been able to provide the case files either to us as representatives of the victims, or to other parties. We promise to initiate disciplinary procedures against the case prosecutor with the Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecution, because a hearing for such a simple case was postponed. A trial that we have awaited impatiently for more than two years. This shows the deep negligence of the state prosecutor, who from the beginning of the procedure, due to his fault, failed the trial," he said.

The accused for the attack on journalists in 2023 in Leposaviq, Serbian List deputy Slavko Simiq, claims that he is innocent.

"Whenever I have encountered Albanian journalists in the north, when there has been any protest over the past years, I have always assisted them and provided support, both technical and in every other sense. Therefore, I have absolutely no connection to this incident, and at that time I publicly condemned the attack. I am not afraid of anything, I am completely innocent. Justice and truth are on my side, and I am confident that I will prove justice and truth," he said.

According to the indictment of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Mitrovica, on June 16, 2023, during a protest against the visit of Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, Simiq allegedly ordered the crowd to attack media personnel, after which media teams were attacked with stun grenades, punches, kicks, and blunt objects.

He is accused of the criminal offense “Participation in a crowd committing a criminal offense and hooliganism.”

Alongside him, the accused Vukasinoviq is also charged by the prosecution with assault.