05 June 2013

A mixed panel of EULEX and Kosovo judges acquitted all five defendants in the so-called BIRN case, because they found that the acts the accused were charged with, do not constitute criminal offences. S.L., R.H., A.A., R.H. and Q.M., were charged in the indictment with the criminal offences of violating equal status of residents of Kosovo and threats.

The case relates to an alleged campaign of threats against the journalist, J.X., and a member of her staff at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) by the newspaper Infopress in June 2009 following the broadcast of a television program (hosted by J.X.) purportedly critical of the mayor of Skenderaj/Srbica and the Drenica region.

The case was prosecuted by a special prosecutor from Kosovo's Special Prosecution Office (SPRK).