The leader of the Telegram group ‘AlbKings,’ gained around 2,300 euros in payments via blackmail and threats. The group, which shared derogatory content of girls and women, ‘deepfake’ images, and women’s personal information, including a BIRN journalist’s phone number, had over 100,000 members. 

The prosecution revealed that one of the accused, F.P., known by the nickname “The Leader,” accepted payments from victims in US dollars and cryptocurrency via PayPal. 

The prosecution alleges that F.P. converted over 2,300 euros worth of cryptocurrency through various accounts he controlled. 

According to the prosecution, F.P.,  founded the group and operated it for 15 months,  during which explicit content involving women and girls was shared. F.P. confessed during the investigation that he created the group “to gain fame.” 

The indictment includes extensive evidence and testimonies from victims directly affected by the group’s activities.

Another key figure in the case, E.N., who was an administrator of the group, is accused of threatening one of the victims. According to the prosecution, E.N. told the victim, “I have killed someone. I’ve committed serious crimes and I have no sympathy for anyone… You have two minutes to comply.” 

He then demanded the victim send explicit images, threatening that if she refused, he would share the images he already possessed with third parties.

In his statement to the authorities, E.N. claimed that he tried to help the victim by intervening to have the explicit images deleted, although they had already been shared. 

F.P. and E.N. have admitted their guilt and reached agreements with the State Prosecutor, leading to ongoing legal proceedings.

Members of the group were also involved in sharing phone numbers of women, often with defamatory captions labeling them as prostitutes or suggesting they provided sexual services for payment. Victims ranged in age.

Following a report made by BIRN to the Kosovo Police and the Prishtina Basic Prosecutor’s Office, which highlighted that the phone number of a BIRN journalist had been shared within this Telegram Group in May 2024, seven individuals were arrested for their involvement in operating and contributing to the distribution of degrading videos, ‘deepfake’ images, and the personal information of women. 

The information on women and girls shared in AlbKings Telegram group gave each member access to private and sensitive information about the victims.

According to the Prosecution, several victims, whose personal details were distributed in the group, faced blackmail. Some members, including group administrators, used coercion to demand favors, including sexual ones, from the victims. 

The first court hearing was initially scheduled for January 30, 2025, but it was delayed as the accused failed to appear in court.

Elza Bajrami Kastrati, the prosecutor leading the investigation into the AlbKings group, explained in an interview with “Kallxo Përnime” TV programme on June 2, 2024 that the unauthorised sharing of any personal data or contact information is a criminal offence, and any action that causes harassment or distress is classified as “harassment.”