Skopje, 5 August 2024 (MIA) – The extradition requests for Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic from Kosovo, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the case dubbed "Monster", as well as the issue of the extradition of the former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Blerim Ramadani, who is under house arrest in Skopje, were in the focus of Monday's meeting between Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The two prime ministers told a joint press conference after the meeting in Skopje that these two issues will continue at the level of ministers of justice.

"We have discussed these two issues and our respective ministers of justice will be in constant and direct contact. Everything will be in the function and direction of the general value that is based on the constitution, the laws, and the institutional procedures in the two countries, as well as within the framework of the good neighbourly and European relations that we want to nurture," Kurti said in response to a reporter's question at Monday's joint press conference with PM Mickoski. 

The case of the two fugitives, Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic, who were sentenced to life imprisonment in the "Monster" case, Kurti noted, is also opened as a case in the Kosovo Special Public Prosecutor's Office.

"The case of the two fugitives is now open as a case in the Special Public Prosecutor's Office of our country, and the case has also been reviewed for the person who is currently under house arrest in the Republic of North Macedonia with the extradition request, and we hope that these two cases will be closed as soon as possible, in order for the laws to be implemented, but also for our good neighbourly relations to be preserved and nurtured," said Kurti. 

As regards whether Ramadani's detention by the Macedonian authorities was also discussed at Monday's meeting, Kosovo's PM said it has also been discussed, stressing that "there is no issue or topic that is important and that was not discussed".

"This was an open, serious and honest meeting because sustainable relations are built only in this way. Our two ministers of justice will continue the discussion," Kurti said.

PM Hristijan Mickoski said that Kosovo's PM Kurti has already answered the question and that it would be pointless to repeat it, but he will repeat it in the interest of transparency.

"The ministers of justice will continue to cooperate not only on this case, but also on the "Monster" case, and we expect, as I said at the very beginning, that the good neighbourly and bilateral relations will only go in a positive direction, and not regress. On the contrary, this meeting is a message that we want to increase and improve relations between the two governments," Mickoski pointed out.  

Justice Minister Igor Filkov stated on July 31 that he has signed extradition requests for Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic, who have been sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism offences. He explained that these requests have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice in Kosovo, and they are currently awaiting a reply.

Former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Blerim Ramadani, was arrested on July 17 at the Jazhince border crossing while entering the country following an arrest warrant issued by Interpol Serbia. He was transferred to the Shutka prison in Skopje, after which, at the request of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, he was first ordered 30-day extradition detention. Last week, the Criminal Court decided to transfer Ramadani from extradition detention to house arrest in Skopje.

Photo: MIA archive