The “Tropoja” file bearing Berisha’s name is “archived” at SPAK, the case over the killings of the 4 Haklaj brothers is suspended

The Special Prosecution has suspended the complaint by Ajshe and Muharrem Haklaj against former prime minister Sali Berisha and 15 other people, in connection with the killings of the four brothers Halil, Shkëlqim, Fatmir and Ylli Haklaj.

After carrying out a series of investigative actions and questioning several people, prosecutor Elida Kaçkini decided to suspend the investigations and send the materials to the State Police and other institutions, for further investigative actions and the finding of evidence.

But this decision has been opposed by the Haklaj family. The brothers’ father, Muharrem Haklaj, and their sister Aishe Haklaj, have turned to the Special Court with an appeal, seeking the continuation of the investigations into the complaint filed with SPAK in July 2021.

The appeal will be reviewed by judge Etleva Deda. In their complaint, Ajshe and Muharrem Haklaj accuse former prime minister Sali Berisha of having ordered the killings of the four brothers. Alongside Berisha, 15 other people are included in the complaint, whom the complainants accuse as part of an armed group and a criminal organisation which, according to them, acted under the former prime minister’s orders.

Charges have been raised for premeditated murder, the creation of an armed gang and a criminal organisation, the committing of crimes within them, and terrorist acts. The Haklaj family’s legal representative, lawyer Idajet Beqiri, declared in the complaint that the family had evidence, documents, film materials and testimony which, according to him, could help clarify the killings. The Haklaj brothers’ elder sister Ajshe Haklaj, Muharrem Haklaj and other family members testified for several hours at SPAK, presenting their claims.

Meanwhile, after carrying out the investigative actions it considered necessary and questioning other people, the Special Prosecution decided to suspend the case and refer it for further investigative actions. The killings of the four Haklaj brothers are part of a long history of conflicts and armed clashes in Tropoja, while the Haklaj family has for years sought their clarification and the bringing to responsibility of the people it considers responsible.

The four Haklaj brothers were killed within a period of about three years, in a series of assassinations in Tropoja. The first was Shkëlqim Haklaj, killed on January 5, 1998 at Qafa e Luzhës. On August 4, 1999 Halil Haklaj was killed, while his brother Fatmir, who was wounded in that attack, was killed three months later, on November 4, 1999, in Bujan. The last of the four brothers was Ylli Haklaj, killed on December 3, 2000 in a sniper attack. These killings took place in the period of armed clashes and numerous conflicts in Tropoja.