The Kosovo Judicial Council, KJC has imposed a disciplinary measure on a judge of the Basic Court in Gjilan over his conversation with one of our journalists, talking about allegations that he had threatened someone with a gun.

“If I had threatened him with a gun, I would have killed him,” judge Veli Kryeziu told BIRN, asked about the claim.

The KJC sent a written public warning to Kryeziu after accepting the plea agreement for what he had said and not contesting it.

“According to the assessment of the investigative panel, the facts were not disputed because they were public,” the decision of the KJC published on December 14 on the official website, said.

Disciplinary proceedings were opened against Kryeziu after the news was published by BIRN. In a session held on December 14, 2022, the decision was made to approve the voluntary agreement for admission of guilt.

In July last year, BIRN reported that the judge was suspected of having threatened a person with a weapon.

The event took place on May 28, 2022, while information was kept only within law and order institutions.

Kryeziu, in a telephone conversation with BIRN, did not admit to having threatened anyone, although legal proceedings had been initiated against him at the prosecutor’s office.

“No idea. If I had threatened him with a gun, I would have killed him, [ unclear words] I don’t do stupid things. I don’t comment. Have a good day,” Kryeziu said briefly to the journalist. 

According to the KJC, Kryeziu violated Article 5 of the Law on Disciplinary Responsibility of Judges and Prosecutors, among others for being “involv[ed] in conduct, whether in office or in private, which damages the reputation of the court or may damage public confidence in the impartiality or credibility of the judiciary”.

The investigative panel for the case was established on September 8, 2022.

On November 25, 2022, the panel presented the disciplinary investigation report and the voluntary plea agreement.